WO2000063803A2

WO2000063803A2 - System and method for internet-based translation brokerage services

Info

Publication number: WO2000063803A2
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000488
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Bourbonnais; Martin Walker
Original assignee: Alis Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 1999-04-20
Filing date: 2000-04-19
Publication date: 2000-10-26
Also published as: WO2000063803A8

Abstract

A system and method for Internet-based translation brokerage services. The method for Internet-based translation brokerage services for buying and selling of translation services over the Internet comprises the steps of receiving translation requests at a client system from clients requesting translation service, the client system being embodied in a client computer system connected to the Internet, and receiving tenders at a provider system from translation service providers, the provider system being embodied in a provider computer system connected to the Internet. The method further comprises the steps of generating a client profile from the translation request, generating provider from the tenders, transmitting the client profile and the provider profiles to a broker system and the broker system being embodied in a broker computer system connected to the Internet.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERNET-BASED TRANSLATION BROKERAGE SERVICES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Related Application

This application is related to concurrently filed applications titled, "System and

Method for Enhancing Document Translatability", Attorney Docket No. 00184.0003, commonly assigned, and "System and Method for Network-based Teletranslation", Attorney Docket No. 00184.0002, commonly assigned, and incorporates the commonly assigned applications by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

H. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to language translation and, more specifically, to a system and method for Internet-based translation brokerage services.

HL Description of the Related Art

Today, as more and more businesses operate across international borders, they are often required to conduct business in more than one language. Also, businesses often encounter a need to translate documents from one natural language to another natural language.

In the past, businesses have utilized human-based translation (HT) to translate documents. Although HT generally produces high quality work, it is inherently slow, labor intensive, and often expensive. Human translators are quite often specialists in a given language pair (e.g., English/French). Hence, there is a limitation on how the

- 1 - human translators can be allocated to different translation tasks, thus resulting in certain rigidity for a business employing the human translators.

Because HT is labor intensive, it is difficult to scale up when need increases and difficult to scale down when need decreases. The capacity of any group of translators is fairly well defined. When a sudden need arises to increase the capacity for a particular language pair, adding translators to the process creates various problems, such as harmonizing different styles, sharing glossaries and context information, and merging translated text.

Moreover, the document to be translated is often submitted to the translators in different formats, for example, computer printouts, faxes, word processing files, email attachments, Web pages. The translators are then left to handle the formats and extract translatable contents. While requesters of translation services prefer that the translated document be in the same format as it was originally submitted, this is often not possible, because different translators have varying technical skills and often are unable to reformat the translated document into the original format.

For these reasons, machine translation software programs, also known as machine translation engines, have been developed to provide computerized translations. Today, the term Machine Translation (MT) is widely used in the industry to refer to computerized systems that translate documents from one natural language to another, with or without human assistance. It is impoπant to note that the term MT does not include computer-based tools that support translators by providing access to dictionaries and terminology databases, or tools that facilitate the transmission and reception of machine-readable texts, or tools that interact with word processing, text editing or printing equipment. The term MT does, however, include systems in which translators or other users assist computers in the production of translations, including combinations of text preparauon, on-line interactions and subsequent revisions of translated documents.

However, MT is sull far from being able to offer the level of quality HT routinely provides. Hence, with MT being faster, less expensive (and easier to scale up or down) but yielding a less precise, lower quality translauon. and HT providing higher quality but taking more ume and being more expensive, both approaches are being used, depending on the application context.

With the increasing availability and populaπtv of the Internet, translation service providers are relying more and more on it to conduct their business. Whether the translauon service providers uses one or many MT engines, HT, or a combinauon thereof to translate the documents submitted to them by their customers, they increasingly use the Internet to conduct their business.

For example, a translation service provider can advertise its services and solicit business on the Internet. The service provider may do so with the use of a Web site. Either through the Web site or via an email account, it can receive a translation document (i.e., document to be translated) from a customer over the Internet. It can translate the document and also send the translated document back to the customer over the Internet. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the use by a translation services provider of a convenuonal Internet-based translation network 100. The network 100 comprises a buyer 104 who wishes to purchase translauon services over the Internet. The buyer 104 is connected to the seller 112 via the Internet 108 shown generally. The seller 112 provides translauon services. The buyer 104 has a personal computer 116 by wmch the buyer 104 communicates with the seller 112 by Internet-based means of commumcauon such as emails and Web forms. The seller 112 also has a personal computer 120. The seller 112 may adveruse on the Internet 108 using a web site.

Although relying on the use of the Internet to conduct the business of the translauon service providers appears promising, it has several disadvantages from both the customers and service providers perspective. The process as currently exists is essentially a manual process, which is inefficient and time consuming.

If the buyer, for example, wants to compare the services and pπcing offered by various service providers, the buyer needs to find by its own means (via the Internet or others) several translauon services providers to evaluate them. The buyer then must compare the services and pπces to select a service provider. Likewise, the service providers also need to respond every time a buyer seeks quotes regarding their services. The buyer and the service provider must negouate one-on-one for pπce, quality of the service, deadlines, and so on.

More importantly, the buyer may not have found the best service provider for his specific need even after evaluating several service providers on the Internet. The buyer may have evaluated a few service providers, and may have missed or ignored a service provider that would have provided the most appropπate service in accordance with the buyer s need. In short, the buyer has no way of knowing if he selected the "right" service provider for a given job

This process is also burdensome on the service provider. Each time a buyer requests a quote, the service provider must respond. Even when the service provider ends up not getung the job, the service provider probably wishes to respond, for example, via an email, as this is good business practice to answer potential customers. Thus, this process requires spending time that could otherwise be used on other more profitable activities.

In addition, this is also an inefficient way to advertise the seller's service. Even after a search, the buyer may not select a given provider from the search result simply because the buyer did not have the time to evaluate each and every service provider that shows up in the search result.

This process also does not address in any way the problems of over capacity and under capacity due to seasons, business cycle, etc. The buyer does not know which service providers are too busy and thus may charge a premium for their services at that time.

For these reasons, it has been recognized that there is a need for a system and method for Internet-based translauon brokerage services that is efficient, systemauc and less ume consuming There is a need for a system and method that eliminates the burden-some search required by the buyer to locate a service provider There is a need for a system and method that eliminates the need for a buyer to evaluate multiple service providers to locate the "right" service provider for a given job. Also, there is a need for a system and method that allows the service providers to efficiently market and deliver their services on the Internet and not rely on inefficient ways as currently exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system and method for Internet-based translation brokerage services. In one embodiment, the method for Internet-based translation brokerage services for buying and selling of translation services over the Internet comprises the steps of receiving translation requests at a client system from clients requesting translation service, the client system being embodied in a client computer system connected to the Internet, and receiving tenders at a provider system from translation service providers, the provider system being embodied in a provider computer system connected to the Internet. The method further comprises the steps of generating a client profile from the translation request, generating provider profiles from the tenders, transmitting the client profile and the provider profiles to a broker system, the broker system being embodied in a broker computer system connected to the Internet, generating a list of best matches at the broker system based on the client profile and the provider profiles, and transmitting the list of best matches to the client and provider systems.

The method further comprises the steps of selecting a service provider from the list of best matches, transmitting the selected service provider and the translation document to the broker system, transmitting the translation document to the provider system, transmitting a translated document to the broker system, and transmitting the translated document to the client system.

In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one client system embodied in a client computer system, at least one provider system embodied in a provider computer system, and at least one broker system embodied in a broker computer system. The client system, the provider system and the broker system are interconnected with each other by the Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the reference number.

FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional use of the Internet to link buyers and sellers of translation services. FIG. 2 illustrates an Internet-based translation brokerage system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating various steps in a client system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating various steps in a provider system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating various steps in a broker system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a system and method for Internet-based brokerage of translation services. The present invention provides effective solutions to the problems associated with existing Internet-based translation services. The system and method according to the present invention is efficient and less time consuming. The system and method ehininates the burden-some search required by the buyer to locate an appropriate translation services provider. The system and method eliminates the need for a buyer to evaluate multiple service providers to locate the "right" service provider for a specific job. Also, the system and method eliminates the need for service providers to explicitly respond to each and every query by potenual buyers.

Also, the system and method allows the service providers to efficiently market their services on the Internet.

In one embodiment, the system for Internet-based brokerage services compπses one or more client systems, one or more provider systems, and a broker system connected to each other by the Internet. FIG. 2 illustrates an Internet-based brokerage system 200 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invenuon.

The system 200 compπses a client system 204, a provider system 208, a broker system

212 connected to each other by the Internet shown generally. In one embodiment, the client system 204 resides in a personal computer 224 or any other type of digital computer system.

The client system 204 includes a client applicauon 228 for receiving the translation request from clients seeking to purchase a translation service. The translation request includes one or more documents referred to as translation documents that are to be translated. In one embodiment, the client system 204 and client applicauon 228 are computer software programs running in a personal computer

224. In one embodiment, the client system 204 and client application 228 are Web forms displayed and filled through a standard Web browser on a personal computer

224. In one embodiment, a client is asked a set of questions by the client application

228. The questions relate to vaπous aspects of the translauon request and help the client system 204 to analyze the translation request. A few example questions are listed below:

(1) What languages do you want the document to be translated into? (2) What pπce range are you willing to consider?

(3) WT-en do you need the translated document?

(4) What level of quality do you require?

(5) What is the format of the oπginal document?

(6) What format do you want the translated document to have (7) What are the impoπant cπteπa (e g , pπce, qualιt\. delivery date, etc )

Based on the answers to the quesuons received by the client applicauon 228, the client system 204 prepares a client profile that includes a set of client propeπies. The client properues summanze the translauon request and ranks the cπteπa based on their importance The client system 204 transmits the chent profile to the broker system 212 over the Internet.

In one embodiment, the provider system 208 resides in a personal computer 224 or any other type of digital computer system The provider system 208 includes a provider applicauon 232 for receiving tenders from the provider seeking to sell its translauon services. In one embodiment, the provider system 208 and provider applicauon 232 are computer software programs running m a personal computer 224. In one embodiment, the provider system 208 and provider applicauon 232 are Web forms displayed and filled through a standard Web browser on a personal computer 224. In one embodiment, the provider system 208 creates a provider profile based on the tenders. The provider profile summanzes the tenders and includes such lnformauon as language pair capability, maximum capacity, document formats supported, pπces for vaπous services, levels of quality offered, etc. The provider system 208 transmits the provider profile to the broker system 212 over the Internet. In one embodiment, the broker system 212 resides in a server computer 240 connected to the Internet 220. The broker system 212 may reside in any other type of digital computer, including personal or mini computers The broker system 212 is a computer software program residing in the server computer 240 In one embodiment, the broker system 212 stores the provider profiles and the client profiles in a hard- drive 244 connected to the server computer 240.

The broker system 212 compares the client profile to the provider profiles and generates a list of provider profiles that best match the client profile. In matching the chent profile with the provider profiles, the broker system takes into account the prioπues indicated by the client in the client profile.

The broker system then transmits the list of best matches to the client system 204. The broker system also transmits the chent profile to all the matched provider systems 208. The buyer then selects a provider from the list of best matches. The buyer sends the translauon document to the broker system 212 along with an idenufication of the selected provider. The broker system 212 relays the translation document to the selected provider. The selected provider translates the document and returns the translated document to the broker system. The service provider may utilize one or many MT engmes, HT, or a combinauon thereof to translate the document. The broker system sends the translated document back to the buyer.

As noted before, the client profile created by the client system 204 is sent to all the providers who are included in the list of best matches. The providers can adjust their pπcing schemes, delivery dates, etc., based on the informauon in the client profile. This feedback allows the providers to improve their compeuuveness by constantly adjusung their service offering and updating their provider profile as often as necessary.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram 300 of various steps in the client system 204 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In a step 304, translauon requests are received from clients at the client apphcauon 228. In a step 308 the client system 204 creates a client profile from the translauon request. In a step 312, the client system 204 uansmits the client profile to the broker system 212 over the Internet 220.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram 400 of the various steps in the provider system 208 in accordance with one embodiment of the present mvenuon. In a step 404. tenders are received by the provider apphcauon 232 from the translauon services provider. In a step 408. the provider system 208 creates the provider profile from the tenders. In a step 41 , the provider system 208 transmits the provider profile to the broker system 212 over the Internet 220. FIG. 5 is a flow αiagram 500 of the steps in the broker system 212 and other steps In a step 504, the broker system 212 generates a list of best matches for a specific client profile and the vanous provider profiles In a step 508, the broker system 212 transmits the list of best matches to the specific client system 204, and uansmits the specific client profile to the provider systems 208 which are contained in the list of best matches. In a step 512, a service provider is selected from the list of best matches by the client to uanslate the document In a step 516, the client system 204 Uansmits the document to the broker system 212 along with the identification of the selected provider In a step 520, the broker system 212 relays the document to the selected service provider. In a step 524, the service provider translates the document. In a step 528. the service provider transmits the translated document to the broker system 212. In a step 532, the broker system 212 transmits the translated document to the client system 204 The client finally retrieves the translated document from the client system 204 The present invention is efficient, systemauc and less ume consuming than convenuonal ways to use the Internet as related to translation services. The buyer no longer needs to conduct muluple searches to evaluate the service providers. Instead, the broker system matches the buyer with the best available service providers. As a result, the buyer is assured of the 'πght" service provider The present mvenuon also accords significant advantages to the service provider. The service provider need no longer respond to each and every query from potential buyers The service provider is assured that if his tender is compeUUve, he will be automaucally selected by the broker system and listed in the list of best matches that will be sent to the potential buyer. Moreover, in this case, the service provider will also be sent the client profile of the potenual buyer, allowing him to improve his compeuuveness by adjusung his service offering and updaung his provider profile as necessary

In an embodiment where the mvenuon is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into a computer system usmg a removable storage or a hard dπve. The software may be stored in a CD-ROM, a floppy disk or any other type of storage device.

In another embodiment, the invention can be implemented pnmarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components such as apphcauon specific integrated circuit (ASICs). Implementauon of such as hardware state machine so as to perform the funcuons described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). In yet another embodiment, the invenuon is implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

While vanous embodiments of the present invention have been descπbed above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitauon. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present mvenuon should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHA T IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An Internet-based translation brokerage system for buying and selling uanslation services on the Internet, comprising: at least one client system embodied in a client computer system; at least one provider system embodied in a provider computer system; at least one broker system embodied in a broker computer system, wherein the client system, the provider system and the broker system are interconnected with each other by the Internet.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the client system further comprising a client application for receiving a translation request from a client, the chent application being a computer software program embodied in a storage medium running remotely on a Web server and accessed through a standard Web browser running on the client computer system.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the client system further comprising a client application for receiving a translation request from a client, the chent appUcation being a computer software program embodied in a storage medium running locally on the client computer system.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the translation request further comprising a translation document to be uanslated.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the chent system creates a chent profile from the translation request.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the client profile comprises the size of the translation document.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the client profile comprises the format of the translation document.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the client profile comprises the requested language or languages in which the translation document is to be translated.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the client profile comprises the requested level of quality of the translated document.

10. The system according to claim 5, wherein the chent profile comprises the date by which the translation document needs to be translated.

11. The system according to claim 5, wherein the client profile comprises the maximum price which the client is willing to pay for the service.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the provider system further comprising a provider application for receiving a tender from a translation service provider.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the provider application further comprises a computer software program embodied in a storage medium rur-riing locaUy on the provider computer system.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the provider application further comprises a computer software program embodied in a storage medium running remotely on a Web server and accessed through a standard Web browser running on d e provider computer system.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the provider system creates a provider profile from the tender.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the provider profile comprises information identifying the ability to uanslate from specific languages to other specific languages.

17 The system according to claim 15, wherein the provider profile compπses the amount of text that can be translated from a specific language to a specific language within a time peπod

18 The system according to claim 15, wherein the provider profile compπses the levels of quality which are available when translaung from a specific language to a specific language

19 The system according to claim 15, wherein the provider profile compπses the document formats which can be handled by the service provider.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the provider profile compπses the minimum pπce at which the provider is willing to offer its services.

21. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the broker system further compπses a broker application for receiving client profiles and provider profiles over the Internet.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the broker applicauon is a computer software program embodied in a storage medium

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein the broker application resides in a server computer

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the broker system compπses a hard-dπve memory for stoπng received chent profiles and provider profiles

25 The system according to claim 21, wherein the broker system further compπses means for generaung a list of best matches based on the received client profiles and provider profiles. means for transmitting a list of best matches; means for transmitting a client profile; means for receiving a uanslation document; means for transmitting a translation document; means for receiving a uanslated document; and means for transmitting a translated document.

26. A method for Internet-based uanslation brokerage services for buying and selling translation services over the Internet, comprising the steps of: receiving translation requests at a client system from a client requesting translation service, the client system being embodied in a client computer system connected to the Internet; and receiving tenders at a provider system from a Uanslation services provider, the provider system being embodied in a provider computer system connected to the Internet;

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the steps of: generating client profiles from the translation requests; generating provider profiles from the tenders; uansmitting the client profiles and the provider profiles to a broker system, the broker system being embodied in a broker computer system connected to the Internet; generating a list of best matches at the broker system based on the client profiles and the provider profiles; Uansmitting the Ust of best matches for a specific client profile to the client system who has uansmitted the client profile; and Uansmitting the specific client profile to the provider systems who have uansmitted the provider profiles listed on the list of best matches.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of: selecting a service provider from a list of best matches; transmitting the selected service provider and the uanslauon αocument to the broker system; transmitting the translauon document to the provider system, transmitting the uanslated document to the broker system, and transmitting the uanslated document to the chent system

29. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instrucuons executable by the machine to perform method steps of Internet-based translauon brokerage services for buying and selling uanslation services over the Internet, the method compπsing the steps of receiving uanslauon requests at a client system from a client requesung translauon service, the client system being embodied in a client computer system connected to the Internet; and receiving tenders at a provider system from a Uanslation services provider, the provider system being embodied in a provider computer system connected to the Internet;

30. The program storage device according to claim 29, wherein the method further compπsing the steps of generaung client profiles from the uanslauon requests, generating provider profiles from the tenders, transmitting the client profiles and the provider profiles to a broker system, the broker system being embodied in a broker computer system connected to the Internet; generaung a list of best matches at the broker system based on the client profiles and the provider profiles; transmitting the list of best matches for a specific client profile to the client system who has uansmitted the client profile, and Uansmitung the specific chent profile to the provider systems who have uansmitted the provider profiles hsted on the list of best matches

31. The program storage device according to claim 29, wherein the method further comprising the steps of: selecting a service provider from a list of best matches; transmitting the selected service provider and the Uanslation document to the broker system; uansmitting the Uanslation document to the provider system; transmitting the Uanslated document to the broker system; and transmitting the Uanslated document to the client system.