Method and apparatus for integrated, user-directed web site text translation

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated method, implemented over a wide area network or wireless network, comprising a server side and a client side, for user-directed acquisition of reference information, such as dictionary definitions (“look-ups”) or language translation, relating to user-selected messages or user-selected text of World Wide Web (Web″) site pages. The method steps, for Web use, are integrated into either a server-side web site or into a client-side system. In particular embodiments, reference information relating to user-selected Web page includes high quality multi-lingual translations, explanations, illustration and/or consolidated automatic multi-dictionary definitions, wherein such information is displayed to the user in text, voice, image or multi-media formats. The present invention also provides an apparatus for user-directed acquisition of information relating to user-selected Web page text. The present invention further provides an integrated method, over a wireless network for user-direct acquisition of real-time translation and reference services in both text and voice.

1 . An integrated method, over a wide area network having a server side and a client side, for user-directed acquisition of information relating to user-selected text of World Wide Web site pages, comprising: 
 selecting by a user a word of web page text, whereby the user-selected word is accessible by an information retrieval function;    selecting by a user from a plurality of reference sources and translation language pairs, at least one reference source and a translation language pair, whereby the user-selected reference source and user-selected translation language pair are accessible by an information retrieval function;    accessing and retrieving from the user-selected reference source, using the information retrieval function, information relating to the user-selected word in accordance with the user-selected reference source and user-selected translation language pair; and    displaying to the user, based on the accessed and retrieved related information, a related information data set, wherein the selecting and displaying are integrated into the web page, and whereby user-directed acquisition of information relating to user-selected text of World Wide Web site pages is achieved.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method steps are integrated into a server-side web site by either incorporating into the site a reference window linked to the information retrieval function, or by installing programmed script on all web pages of the site to link and enable the information retrieval function.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method steps are integrated into a client-side system using downloadable software or a browser plug-in that is operatively linked to the information retrieval function.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting of a word of web page text is achieved by typing, or pasting of a copy of the word into a window linked to an information retrieval function, or by highlighting the word, whereby the typing, pasting, or highlighting renders the user-selected word accessible by an information retrieval function.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one reference source is a dictionary.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information relating to user-selected text of World Wide Web site pages is selected from the group consisting of high quality multi-lingual translations, explanations, and consolidated automatic multi-dictionary definitions, and wherein such information is displayed to the user in text, voice, image or multi-media formats.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information retrieval function further comprises an Internet search engine operative with the information retrieval function to search the Internet in accordance with the user-selected text, retrieved related information, or related information data set, thereby augmenting the information retrieval function.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting of a reference source or a translation language pair comprises pre-selecting either or both of the reference source or the translation language pair for storing as a default user preference, and wherein accessing and retrieving by the information retrieval function is according to the stored default user preference.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user preference is stored on the server side.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting by the user comprises selecting a plurality of reference sources for simultaneous accessing by the information retrieval function.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing of either or both of the retrieved related information, or the related information data set.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the storing of either or both of the retrieved related information or the related information data set is on the server-side.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising ranking of either or both of the retrieved related information or the related information data set according to relevancy, using one or more relevancy algorithms.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising sorting, using one or more sorting algorithms, of either or both of the retrieved related information or the related information data set into a plurality of relevancy ranked sub-data sets, whereby the sub-data sets are alternately or sequentially displayable to the user.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of hashing or BTree data structures are used to process data accessed by the information retrieval function.  
   
   
       16 . An integrated method, over a wide area network having a server and a client, for user directed acquisition of information relating to user-selected text of World Wide Web site pages, comprising: 
 receiving from the client a user-selected word of World Wide Web page text;    receiving from the client at least one user-selected reference source and a user-selected translation language pair;    accessing and retrieving from the user-selected reference source stored on a server, information relating to the user-selected word, in accordance with the user-selected reference source and the user-selected translation language pair; and    transmitting to the client for display to the user, a related information data set, based on the accessed and retrieved related information, wherein selection by and display to the user are integrated into the World Wide Web page.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein accessing and retrieving information relating to the user-selected word further comprises an Internet search engine operative with the server to search the Internet in accordance with the user-selected text, retrieved related information, or related information data set.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the information relating to user-selected text of World Wide Web site pages is selected from the group consisting of high quality multi-lingual translations, explanations, and consolidated automatic multi-dictionary definitions, and wherein such information is displayed to the user in text, voice, image or multi-media formats.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein user selecting of a reference source or a translation language pair comprises pre-selecting either or both of the reference source or the translation language pair for storing as a default user preference, and wherein the accessing and retrieving by the information retrieval function is according to the stored default user preference.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of user-selected reference sources are received from the client.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising storing of either or both of the retrieved related information, or the related information data set.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising ranking of either or both of the retrieved related information or the related information data set according to relevancy, using one or more relevancy algorithms.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising sorting, using one or more sorting algorithms, of either or both of the retrieved related information or the related information data set into a plurality of relevancy ranked sub-data sets, whereby the sub-data sets are alternately or sequentially displayable to the user.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of hashing or BTree data structures are used to process retrieved data.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for user-directed acquisition, over a wide area network having a server side and a client side, of information relating to user-selected text of World Wide Web site pages, comprising: 
 a server connected to the network, wherein the server comprises a processor, a memory, and a storage device, and wherein the processor and memory are operative with a program stored on the storage device to receive from the client a user-selected word of World Wide Web page text; 
 receive from the client at least one user-selected reference source and user-selected translation language pair;  
 access and retrieve from the user-selected reference source stored on the server, information relating to the user-selected word, in accordance with the user-selected reference source and the user-selected translation language pair; and  
 transmit to the client for display to the user, a related information data set, based on the accessed and retrieved related information, wherein selection by and display to the user are integrated into the World Wide Web page.  
   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising an Internet search engine operative with the server to search the Internet in accordance with the user-selected text, retrieved related information, or related information data set.  
   
   
       27 . An integrated method, over a wireless network having a server side and a client side, for user-directed acquisition of real-time translation and reference services in both text and voice, comprising: 
 selecting, by a client-side user, at least one translation language pair and at least one reference source, whereby the user-selected translation language pair and reference source are accessible by a WAP-based server having information retrieval and voice-recognition functions;    sending by the client-side user a voice message comprising one or more spoken words to the WAP-based server;    accessing and retrieving from the user-selected reference source, using the information retrieval and voice recognition functions, information relating to the voice message in accordance with the user-selected reference source and user-selected translation language pair; and    displaying to the client-side user or to someone connected thereto, based on the accessed and retrieved related information, related text or voice, whereby user-directed acquisition of real-time translation and reference services in both text and voice is achieved.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein selecting of a reference source or a translation language pair comprises pre-selecting either or both of the reference source or the translation language pair for storing as a default user preference.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one reference source is a dictionary.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein selecting by the user comprises selecting a plurality of reference sources for simultaneous accessing and retrieving by the information retrieval function.