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US5917484A
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Multilingual system locale configuration
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 1997-02-24
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Granted: 1999-06-29
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Expires: 2017-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are computer implemented methods of configuring system locale in a computer system, and apparatus for implementing same. The methods comprise presenting a computer user with a multilingual, yet locale independent, language selection screen. The language selection screen comprises a number of language options, one of which may be selected by the computer user. The language options appear in characters native to their referenced languages. The language selection screen achieves locale independence by generating elements of the screen from saved bitmap images or the like. In this manner, current locale settings (if any) are ignored, and language databases corresponding to specific locales are not accessed. After a user selects a language option, his or her computer system may be configured to reawake in a corresponding locale; or alternatively, he or she may be presented with additional language/locale option screens which depend from the locale corresponding to the user selected language.
Inventors
- 👤 David Mullaney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:24
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/451; G06F9/454; G06F40/00; G06F40/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A computer implemented method of configuring system locale in a computer system, comprising the steps of: a) presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data, wherein the locale independent data comprises language option graphics retrieved from a computer memory, and each language option graphic references a different language and is presented in characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; and b) in response to a language selected by the computer user, configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in a locale corresponding to the user selected language.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer implemented method of configuring system locale in a computer system, comprising the steps of: a) presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data, wherein the locale independent data comprises language option graphics retrieved from a computer memory, and each language option graphic references a different language and is presented in characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; and b) in response to a language selected by the computer user, configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in a locale corresponding to the user selected language.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 1, wherein the number of language option graphics are bitmaps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 1, wherein the step of presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data comprises displaying a number of language options in text form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 1, wherein the step of presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data comprises generating a number of pushbuttons on a computer display and allowing the computer user to select only one of the pushbuttons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 1, wherein the step of presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data comprises generating a number of check boxes on a computer display and allowing the computer user to check only one of the check boxes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer implemented method of configuring system locale in a computer system, comprising the steps of: a) presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data, wherein the locale independent data comprises language option graphics retrieved from a computer memory, and each language option graphic references a different language and is presented in characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; b) in response to a language selected by the computer user, displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user, wherein the locale of the one or more additional screens corresponds to the user selected language, and the one or more additional screens comprise a locale selection screen; and c) in response to a locale selected by the computer user, configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in the selected locale.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
A computer implemented method of configuring system locale in a computer system, comprising the steps of: a) presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data, wherein the locale independent data comprises language option graphics retrieved from a computer memory, and each language option graphic references a different language and is presented in characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; b) in response to a language selected by the computer user, displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user, wherein the locale of the one or more additional screens corresponds to the user selected language, and the one or more additional screens comprise a locale selection screen; and c) in response to a locale selected by the computer user, configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in the selected locale.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 6, wherein: a) the display of one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data comprises the step of displaying a language database removal screen; and b) the method comprises the further step of configuring the computer system to remove selected language databases from the computer system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of insuring that a language database accessed by system code is not removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 6, wherein: a) the display of one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data comprises the step of displaying a complex locale configuration screen; and b) the selected locale in which the computer system awakes upon restart is determined by locale variable settings selected by the computer user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 9, further comprising the step of checking to determine whether the user selected locale variables are sensible and safe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 6, wherein the step of displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user comprises accessing a language database corresponding to the user selected language.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for configuring system locale in a computer system, comprising: a) one or more computer readable storage mediums; and b) computer readable program code stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums, the computer readable program code comprising: i) code for presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data, wherein the locale independent data comprises language option graphics retrieved from the one or more computer readable storage mediums, and each language option graphic references a different language and is presented in characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; ii) code for displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user, in response to a language selected by the computer user, wherein the locale of the one or more additional screens corresponds to the user selected language, and the one or more additional screens comprise a locale selection screen; and iii) code for configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in the locale selected by the computer user.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for configuring system locale in a computer system, comprising: a) one or more computer readable storage mediums; and b) computer readable program code stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums, the computer readable program code comprising: i) code for presenting a computer user with a language selection screen composed of locale independent data, wherein the locale independent data comprises language option graphics retrieved from the one or more computer readable storage mediums, and each language option graphic references a different language and is presented in characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; ii) code for displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user, in response to a language selected by the computer user, wherein the locale of the one or more additional screens corresponds to the user selected language, and the one or more additional screens comprise a locale selection screen; and iii) code for configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in the locale selected by the computer user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the language option graphics comprise a number of bitmaps stored in the one or more computer readable storage mediums.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising a number of language databases stored in the computer readable storage mediums, wherein the code for displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user is configured to access one or more of the language databases.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the code for configuring the computer system to awake, upon restart, in the locale selected by the computer user, is configured to access at least one language database which differs from the one or more language databases accessed by the code for displaying one or more additional screens comprising locale dependent data to the computer user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computer implemented method of configuring a computer to operate in a user's native language, comprising the steps of: a) upon the user's first powering up of the computer, initiating a first, locale independent process which displays a number of selectable language options to the user, wherein each language option references a different language and comprises characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; b) upon the user's selection of a language option, initiating a second process with the computer's locale values set temporarily to those corresponding to the user selected language option; c) from within the second process, prompting the user to specify a default language for the computer; and d) upon the user's next and subsequent powerings up of the computer, insuring that the computer's locale values are set to those corresponding to the user selected default language.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computer implemented method of configuring a computer to operate in a user's native language, comprising the steps of: a) upon the user's first powering up of the computer, initiating a first, locale independent process which displays a number of selectable language options to the user, wherein each language option references a different language and comprises characters and/or symbols native to its referenced language; b) upon the user's selection of a language option, initiating a second process with the computer's locale values set temporarily to those corresponding to the user selected language option; c) from within the second process, prompting the user to specify a default language for the computer; and d) upon the user's next and subsequent powerings up of the computer, insuring that the computer's locale values are set to those corresponding to the user selected default language.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer implemented method as in claim 16, wherein upon each powering up of the computer subsequent to the first, the user is allowed to reinvoke the first, locale independent process.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-06-28 | 2002-12-28 | 2003-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-28 | 2006-12-28 | 2007-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-28 | 2010-12-28 | 2011-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |