Interactive translation tool

Abstract

A translation window is opened in conjunction with a primary window, such as a Web page window containing Web pages hosted on the Internet. The translation window and primary window are automatically adjusted in size and position so that they fit on one user-viewable screen without overlapping. The translation window is linked to a translation dictionary database accessible through the Internet which provides accurate and comprehensive definitions of the words that are identified to be translated.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising at least one processor executing program code instructions on a server computer coupled to a network, the program code instructions causing the server computer to:
 encode a translation web page, the translation web page including a graphical user interface (GUI), and the GUI containing a GUI input field;   transmit the translation web page to a client device coupled to the network for display;   receive, from the GUI input field displayed within the GUI on the client device, a transmission encoding a user input in a first language;   access, via the network, a database communication interface receiving query commands causing a translation dictionary database to select a translation of the user input into a second language;   encode a translation transmission comprising the translation;   transmit the translation transmission of the user input into the second language to the client device for display within a GUI output field displayed within the GUI on the client device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the translation web page is encoded and transmitted responsive to a receipt of a message indicating a selection of a link. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first language received by the GUI text input field automatically defaults to a native language of a user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second language is selected from a GUI selection control identifying a direction of the translation, the direction determining the translation of the first language in the input field to the second language in the output field, or the translation of the second language in the input field to the first language in the output field. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the direction of the translation is from the first language to the second language. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the direction of the translation is from the second language to the first language. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user input in the first language comprises a plurality of words. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI input field is a text field or a text area. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the GUI input field is rendered within a first area of the display and the GUI output field is rendered within a second area of the display, wherein no location within the first area overlaps with a location in the second area. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising at least one processor executing program code instructions on a computing device coupled to a network, the program code instructions causing the computing device to:
 decode a web page including a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI containing a GUI input field;   display the web page within an Internet browser;   receive, from the GUI input field displayed within the GUI, a user input encoding a word or phrase in a first language;   access a database communication interface receiving query commands causing a translation dictionary database, available via the network, to select a translation of the user input into a second language;   receive the translation of the user input into the second language; and   display within a GUI output field displayed within the GUI, the translation of the user input into the second language.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the translation web page is received and decoded responsive to a receipt of a message indicating a selection of a link. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first language received by the GUI text input field automatically defaults to a native language of a user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second language is selected from a GUI selection control identifying a direction of the translation, the direction determining the translation of the first language in the input field to the second language in the output field, or the translation of the second language in the input field to the first language in the output field. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the direction of the translation is from the first language to the second language. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the direction of the translation is from the second language to the first language. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the user input in the first language comprises a plurality of words. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI input field is a text field or a text area. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the GUI input field is rendered within a first area of the display and the GUI output field is rendered within a second area of the display, wherein no location within the first area overlaps with a location in the second area. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the program code instructions comprise a client-side scripting language. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 encoding, by a server computer coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor executing program code instructions, a translation web page including a graphical user interface (GUI), and the GUI containing a GUI input field;   transmitting, by the server computer, the translation web page to a client device coupled to the network for display;   receiving, by the server computer, from the GUI input field displayed within the GUI on the client device, a transmission encoding a user input in a first language;   accessing, by the server computer, a database communication interface receiving query commands causing a translation dictionary database to select a translation of the user input into a second language;   encoding, by the server computer, a translation transmission comprising the translation;   transmitting, by the server computer, the translation transmission of the user input into the second language to the client device for display within a GUI output field displayed within the GUI on the client device.