US5966685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for parallel foreign language communication over a computer network
Assignee: Meta Platforms Inc
•
Filing: 1996-11-08
•
Granted: 1999-10-12
•
Expires: 2016-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed which allows for an electronic discussion group user to communicate with another user who speaks a different language. Machine translators and other software are incorporated to translate messages, thereby creating parallel discussion groups in different languages.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary A. Flanagan
- 👤 Alexander B. Trevor
- 👤 Philip Jensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/40; G06F40/42; G06F40/45; G06F40/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for electronic communication between users of different languages, comprising: a first electronic discussion group structure adapted to display messages in a first language; a second discussion group structure adapted to display messages in a second language; means for posting a message on said first discussion group structure, said message in said first language; means for submitting said message to a first batch process adapted to translate said message into said second language; means for posting said message into said second discussion group in said second language; means for posting a reply to said message on to said second discussion group structure, said reply in said second language; means for submitting said reply to a second batch process adapted to translate said reply to said first language; and means for posting said reply in said first language onto said first discussion group structure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for electronic communication between users of different languages, comprising: a first electronic discussion group structure adapted to display messages in a first language; a second discussion group structure adapted to display messages in a second language; means for posting a message on said first discussion group structure, said message in said first language; means for submitting said message to a first batch process adapted to translate said message into said second language; means for posting said message into said second discussion group in said second language; means for posting a reply to said message on to said second discussion group structure, said reply in said second language; means for submitting said reply to a second batch process adapted to translate said reply to said first language; and means for posting said reply in said first language onto said first discussion group structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for translating said message includes a data filter which preprocesses said message in said first language and post-processes said message in said second language.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discussion group languages are comprised of an English version, a French version, and a German version.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said means for translating is adapted to translate English to French, French to English, English to German, and German to English.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second discussion groups are accessible by setting a language preference.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for electronic communication between users of different languages over a network electronic bulletin board system comprising the steps of: (a) developing a plurality of parallel discussion groups for the storage and display of electronic information; (b) receiving an input message from a user at one of said discussion groups; (c) submitting the input message to a batch process adapted to translate the input message from its original language text to a target language text; (e) collecting the translated input message from the batch process and posting said translated input message to a second discussion group adapted to display said target language.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for electronic communication between users of different languages over a network electronic bulletin board system comprising the steps of: (a) developing a plurality of parallel discussion groups for the storage and display of electronic information; (b) receiving an input message from a user at one of said discussion groups; (c) submitting the input message to a batch process adapted to translate the input message from its original language text to a target language text; (e) collecting the translated input message from the batch process and posting said translated input message to a second discussion group adapted to display said target language.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising the step of preprocessing the inputted text for the purpose of identifying and marking words which are best left untranslated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of: post-processing the inputted text for the purpose of rearrangement of the untranslated word into the target language.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of providing translated messages in a plurality of electronic discussion structures running on at least one computer network, the method comprising the steps of: posting a first message from a first user onto a first electronic discussion structure, said first message appearing in a first language; providing a machine translator in electronic communication with said network, said machine translator capable of receiving and batch processing a plurality of messages; translating said first message, with said machine translator, into a second language; posting said first message onto a second electronic discussion structure, said second message appearing in said second language; posting a response to said first message onto said second electronic discussion structure, said response appearing in said second language; translating said response into said first language; posting said response in said first language onto said first electronic discussion structure; posting a third message onto a third electronic discussion structure, said third message appearing in a third language; translating said third message into said first language; posting said third message in said first language onto said first electronic discussion structure; translating said third message into said second language; and posting said third message in said second language onto said second electronic discussion structure.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of providing translated messages in a plurality of electronic discussion structures running on at least one computer network, the method comprising the steps of: posting a first message from a first user onto a first electronic discussion structure, said first message appearing in a first language; providing a machine translator in electronic communication with said network, said machine translator capable of receiving and batch processing a plurality of messages; translating said first message, with said machine translator, into a second language; posting said first message onto a second electronic discussion structure, said second message appearing in said second language; posting a response to said first message onto said second electronic discussion structure, said response appearing in said second language; translating said response into said first language; posting said response in said first language onto said first electronic discussion structure; posting a third message onto a third electronic discussion structure, said third message appearing in a third language; translating said third message into said first language; posting said third message in said first language onto said first electronic discussion structure; translating said third message into said second language; and posting said third message in said second language onto said second electronic discussion structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of setting a language preference to access said first, second, or third discussion structure.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for electronic communication between users of different languages over a network electronic bulletin board system comprising the steps of: selecting a first one of a plurality of languages; transmitting a message in a second one of said plurality of languages to said electronic bulletin board system; translating said message at said electronic bulletin board system from said second one of said plurality of languages to said first one of said plurality of languages, said translation performed by a machine translator capable of receiving and batch processing, a plurality of messages; and displaying said translated message to a user selecting said first one of said plurality of languages.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for electronic communication between users of different languages over a network electronic bulletin board system comprising the steps of: selecting a first one of a plurality of languages; transmitting a message in a second one of said plurality of languages to said electronic bulletin board system; translating said message at said electronic bulletin board system from said second one of said plurality of languages to said first one of said plurality of languages, said translation performed by a machine translator capable of receiving and batch processing, a plurality of messages; and displaying said translated message to a user selecting said first one of said plurality of languages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: selecting a third one of said plurality of languages; translating said message at said electronic bulletin board system from said second one of said plurality of languages to said third one of said plurality of languages, said translation performed by said machine translator capable of receiving and batch processing a plurality of messages; and displaying said translated message to a user selecting said third one of said plurality of languages.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4615002A
Cited
US5029085A
Cited
US5295068A
Cited
US5268839A
Cited
US5541837A
Cited
US5497319A
Cited
US5740231A
Cited
US5675817A
Cited
US5715466A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-11 | 2003-04-12 | 2003-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-11 | 2007-04-12 | 2007-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-11 | 2011-04-12 | 2011-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |