GB2342202A - Simultaneous translation - Google Patents
Simultaneous translation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2342202A GB2342202A GB9914060A GB9914060A GB2342202A GB 2342202 A GB2342202 A GB 2342202A GB 9914060 A GB9914060 A GB 9914060A GB 9914060 A GB9914060 A GB 9914060A GB 2342202 A GB2342202 A GB 2342202A
- Authority
- GB
- Grant status
- Application
- Patent type
- Prior art keywords
- system
- translation
- language
- text
- voice
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING; COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRICAL DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F17/00—Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions
- G06F17/20—Handling natural language data
- G06F17/28—Processing or translating of natural language
- G06F17/289—Use of machine translation, e.g. multi-lingual retrieval, server side translation for client devices, real-time translation
Abstract
Description
2342202 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION, The present
invention relates to a system and method for simultaneous translation.
Simultaneous translation machines have recently experienced considerable growth, due mainly to the development of new voice and translation processors, which are increasingly able to achieve optimum standards of translation.
Translator machines are available on the market which, using an internal translation program, permit a text entered via the keyboard to be translated into another language, visible on the screen.
Another type of machine which is less developed incorporates a text to voice conversion program.
It is these programs which currently present the greatest area for development as they permit the translation and conversion of a written text into a set of words.
The new simultaneous translation system and procedure permits two interlocutors speaking different languages to communicate without the physical presence of a translator-interpreter, until now a necessary requirement.
Basically, the new system comprises a housing-casing which holds a data processor, a hard disk, the necessary software (dictionaries, language translators and voice reproducers), a modem providing connection to the Intemet, a printer output port, a compact disk drive, a liquid crystal display screen for the control menu and another used to read the last sentence in use, as well as a telephone with input and output lines, a microphone, headphones, earphones, a cassette recorder, loudspeakers, a battery or power cell and finally a keyboard connection for use by people with impediments or disabilities. Once the system is connected, either via battery or to the mains supply, a menu is displayed from which both the input and output language should be selected, which is to say, the language which the user wishes to translate and the language into which this should be translated in spoken form.
2 Two methods of using the translator device exist, it either being employed between two different systems or on a single system.
In the case of using two different systems, the connection is established via a modem connected to the Internet or by telephone.
For the connection between two different systems, once the languages have been chosen from the start menu the connection is established either via modem to the Internet or by telephone, and the number of the receiver with which the user wishes to speak is dialled, this possessing the same simultaneous translation system.
A message notifies the receiver that the sender wishes to communicate with them via the simultaneous translation device.
The mode of communication will be via keyboard, microphone or a handsfree microphone and earphones set.
In the case of connection via the Internet, the following procedure is followed:
The voice recognition program is activated, and at the same time the text entry program is activated on the screen of the sender.
The system includes dictionary programs for the various languages with which it is to work.
From this moment on the sender is able to speak into the microphone, clearly and precisely, the voice program processing the signal and transcribing it to text.
Once the signal has been processed and transcribed to text, a translation program is activated which translates the text into the language previously selected.
3 Said texts can be viewed on both the sender system and the receiver system.
At this moment, the voice program is activated on the receiver system which carries out the inverse function by converting the text translated by the translation program to voice.
Which is to say, the receiver will hear the sentence translated into the selected language, and will repeat the process in reverse, thus establishing oral communication between the two translator machines.
On ending communication, the process will be deactivated.
In the case of communication by telephone, the process is the same but there is no visualisation on the screen, due to the absence of this, of the spoken and translated texts.
For translation on a single system:
The start button, which can be located on the machine or on the microphone, is pressed, activating the voice recognition program, and at the same time these are displayed on the screen of the sender.
The sender should speak in short and clear sentences, which will aid dialogue, as well as aiding the internal process of the microprocessor.
Immediately, the start button is again pressed, giving the order to simultaneously activate two programs. One to translate the text on the screen into the language required and the other to convert the text to voice in the required language.
The button is pressed for a third time and the system frees the memory and inverts the order of the languages on the menu, giving the receiver the option of becoming the sender. This user speaks into the microphone in their language and the process is repeated in reverse.
4 Thanks to this new simultaneous translation system and procedure, we are able to communicate with other people without having any knowledge of their language and vice versa, and at the same time it aids language learning in a very effective and practical way.
Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a diagram of the component elements of a simultaneous translation system.
Figure 2 shows a diagram representing operation in the case of connection via the Internet.
Figure 3 shows a diagram of the data processor.
The new system comprises a portable housing-casing (1) which holds a data processor (2), a hard drive (3), the necessary software (dictionaries, language translators and voice reproducers), a modem providing connection to the Internet (4), a printer output port (5), a compact disk drive (6), a liquid crystal display screen (7) for the control menu and another used to read the last sentence in use (8), a telephone with input and output lines (9), a microphone (10), headphones or earphones (11), a cassette recorder (12), loudspeakers (13), a battery or power cell (14) and finally a keyboard (15) connection for use by people with impediments or disabilities.
Once the system is connected, either via battery or to the mains supply, a menu (16) is displayed from which both the input and output language (17) should be selected, which is to say, the language which the user wishes to translate and the language into which this should be translated in spoken form.
Two methods of using the translator device exist, it either being employed between two different systems or on a single system.
In the case of using two different systems, the connection is established via modem connected to the Internet (4) or by telephone (8).
In the case of connection via the Internet (4), the procedure detailed below is followed:
1 In the case of two different systems, once the languages (17) have been chosen from the start menu (16) the connection is established either via modem to the Internet or by telephone and the number of the receiver with which the user wishes to speak is dialled, this possessing the same simultaneous 5 translation system.
A message notifies the receiver that the sender wishes to communicate with them via the simultaneous translation device.
The mode of communication will be via keyboard (15), microphone (10) or a hands-free microphone and earphones set (11).
Immediately, the voice recognition (1 g), translation (20) and dictionary (21) programs are activated (18).
is From this moment on the sender is able to speak into the microphone (10) on their system, clearly and precisely, the voice program processing the signal and transcribing it to text.
Once the signal has been processed and transcribed to text, the translation program (20) is executed that translates the text into the language (17) previously selected.
Said texts can be viewed on both the sender system and the receiver system.
At this moment, the voice program (19) is activated on the receiver system which carries out the inverse function by converting the text translated by the translation program (20) to voice.
On ending communication, the process (22) is deactivated.
In the case of communication by telephone, the process is the same but there is no visualisation on the screens (7)(8), due to the absence of these, of the spoken and translated texts, nor is the keyboard (15) physically present.
In the case of a single system:
The start button, which can be located on the machine or on the microphone (10), is pressed, activating the voice recognition program (19), and at the same time displaying these on the screen of the sender, once the language (18) has been selected from the start menu (17).
Immediately after, the start button is again pressed, giving the order to simultaneously activate two programs. One to translate the text (21) on the screen into the language required and the other to convert the text to voice in the required language (17).
The button is pressed for a third time and the system frees the memory and inverts the order of the languages (17) displayed on the menu (16), giving the receiver the option of becoming the sender. This user speaks into the microphone (10) in their language and the process is repeated in reverse.
In a new version of the system the hard disk (3) is replaced with ROM or EPROM memory, which will hold the translation program.
The main purpose of the compact disk drive (6) is for this to be read in order to load dictionaries into the RAM, which will be interpreted by the programs residing in the ROM or EPROM memory, being controlled via a menu, making it possible to restore translator system dictionaries, it not being necessary, therefore, for the dictionaries compact disk to be present for the system to operate.
The processor consists of three differentiated parts, the first of these being the spoken word processor (1), which is responsible for converting the sounds received by the microphone into processed words in the language being captured.
The second element is the text translator (21), whose function is, via the translation program, to translate the entered text into the language that has previously been specified.
The third element is the sound synthesising unit (23), whose purpose is to synthesise voice from a text in any language.
7 It should be mentioned that control of the system is carried out by a fourth program element designed for this purpose. This is responsible for synchronising the various inputs and outputs required for the correct operation and performance of the apparatus itself.
The processing procedure for the translation is the following:
Firstly, processing is carried out by the spoken word processor (1 g), next processing is carried out by the text translator (21) and finally processing is 10 carried out by the sound synthesiser (23) for a certain sender language.
Operation is the same for the receiver language, this should simply be specified using the translator configuration menu.
It will be appreciated that variations in, and modifications to, the embodiments described and illustrated may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
8
Claims (1)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ES9801265A ES2148078B1 (en) | 1998-06-16 | 1998-06-16 | Equipment and process simultaneous translation. |
ES9901320A ES2152186B1 (en) | 1999-06-14 | 1999-06-14 | Improvements in invention patent. 9801265 are related to a computer and simultaneous translation procedure. |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9914060D0 GB9914060D0 (en) | 1999-08-18 |
GB2342202A true true GB2342202A (en) | 2000-04-05 |
Family
ID=26155159
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9914060A Withdrawn GB9914060D0 (en) | 1998-06-16 | 1999-06-16 | System and method for simultaneous translation |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
FR (1) | FR2786584B3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9914060D0 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1148695A2 (en) * | 2000-04-21 | 2001-10-24 | Nec Corporation | Mobile terminal with an automatic translation function |
US6999758B2 (en) | 2003-05-06 | 2006-02-14 | Ocmc, Inc. | System and method for providing communications services |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2014765A (en) * | 1978-02-17 | 1979-08-30 | Carlson C W | Portable translator device |
US4393460A (en) * | 1979-09-14 | 1983-07-12 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Simultaneous electronic translation device |
EP0327408A2 (en) * | 1988-02-05 | 1989-08-09 | ADVANCED PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | Voice language translator |
WO1995016968A1 (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1995-06-22 | Jean Gachot | Method and device for converting a first voice message in a first language into a second message in a predetermined second language |
DE19607121A1 (en) * | 1996-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | Wolf Strycker | Simultaneous translation equipment |
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2014765A (en) * | 1978-02-17 | 1979-08-30 | Carlson C W | Portable translator device |
US4393460A (en) * | 1979-09-14 | 1983-07-12 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Simultaneous electronic translation device |
EP0327408A2 (en) * | 1988-02-05 | 1989-08-09 | ADVANCED PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | Voice language translator |
WO1995016968A1 (en) * | 1993-12-15 | 1995-06-22 | Jean Gachot | Method and device for converting a first voice message in a first language into a second message in a predetermined second language |
DE19607121A1 (en) * | 1996-02-26 | 1997-08-28 | Wolf Strycker | Simultaneous translation equipment |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
AltaVista's translation service at http://babelfish.altavista.com/ * |
H Tanaka,"Proc. Pacific Rim Int. Conf. on Artificial Intell igence",1991,pp11-16, DIALOG No.04352845 * |
M Davison, "Natural language translation" Web page at http://www.rightwords.co.uk/lang.html * |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1148695A2 (en) * | 2000-04-21 | 2001-10-24 | Nec Corporation | Mobile terminal with an automatic translation function |
EP1148695A3 (en) * | 2000-04-21 | 2004-02-25 | Nec Corporation | Mobile terminal with an automatic translation function |
US6907256B2 (en) | 2000-04-21 | 2005-06-14 | Nec Corporation | Mobile terminal with an automatic translation function |
US6999758B2 (en) | 2003-05-06 | 2006-02-14 | Ocmc, Inc. | System and method for providing communications services |
US7613452B2 (en) | 2003-05-06 | 2009-11-03 | Joseph Allen Pence | System and method for providing communications services |
US7929682B2 (en) | 2003-05-06 | 2011-04-19 | Palus A31, Llc | System and method for providing communications services |
US7970108B2 (en) | 2003-05-06 | 2011-06-28 | Palus A31, Llc | System and method for providing communications services |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date | Type |
---|---|---|
FR2786584A3 (en) | 2000-06-02 | application |
FR2786584B3 (en) | 2000-11-17 | grant |
GB9914060D0 (en) | 1999-08-18 | grant |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
Robinson et al. | WSJCAMO: a British English speech corpus for large vocabulary continuous speech recognition | |
US6321196B1 (en) | Phonetic spelling for speech recognition | |
US5632002A (en) | Speech recognition interface system suitable for window systems and speech mail systems | |
US6434518B1 (en) | Language translator | |
Cooke et al. | An audio-visual corpus for speech perception and automatic speech recognition | |
US6438524B1 (en) | Method and apparatus for a voice controlled foreign language translation device | |
US6952665B1 (en) | Translating apparatus and method, and recording medium used therewith | |
US20090177461A1 (en) | Mobile Speech-to-Speech Interpretation System | |
US5157759A (en) | Written language parser system | |
US6385586B1 (en) | Speech recognition text-based language conversion and text-to-speech in a client-server configuration to enable language translation devices | |
US6424935B1 (en) | Two-way speech recognition and dialect system | |
US7124082B2 (en) | Phonetic speech-to-text-to-speech system and method | |
US5924068A (en) | Electronic news reception apparatus that selectively retains sections and searches by keyword or index for text to speech conversion | |
US4882681A (en) | Remote language translating device | |
US6101467A (en) | Method of and system for recognizing a spoken text | |
US20100217591A1 (en) | Vowel recognition system and method in speech to text applictions | |
Greenberg | On the origins of speech intelligibility in the real world | |
US20030065504A1 (en) | Instant verbal translator | |
US6760704B1 (en) | System for generating speech and non-speech audio messages | |
Furui et al. | Toward the realization of spontaneous speech recognition-Introduction of a Japanese priority program and preliminary results | |
US20090006097A1 (en) | Pronunciation correction of text-to-speech systems between different spoken languages | |
US6567503B2 (en) | Real-time transcription correction system | |
US20090248392A1 (en) | Facilitating language learning during instant messaging sessions through simultaneous presentation of an original instant message and a translated version | |
US20010025241A1 (en) | Method and system for providing automated captioning for AV signals | |
US20020198716A1 (en) | System and method of improved communication |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AT | Applications terminated before publication under section 16(1) | ||
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |