JP2017204236A - Translated sentence providing device, user terminal device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a translated sentence providing device capable of providing high quality translation of sentences (explanatory text) written on an explanation board or the like, a user terminal device and a program.SOLUTION: A translated sentence providing device 1 includes: an explanation board information storage part 31, a translated sentence storage part 32, a machine translation processing part 23 and a translation request processing part 11. The explanation board information storage part 31 stores location information and an image of an explanation board per explanation board in which an explanatory text is written. The translated sentence storage part 32 stores sentences translated in a language regarding an explanatory text written in an explanation board per explanation board and language. The translation request processing part 11 identifies an explanation board and determines whether or not the translated sentence storage part 32 stores the translated sentences. When the translated sentence storage part 32 stores the translated sentences, the translated sentences are returned to a user terminal device 61. When the translated sentence storage part 32 does not store the translated sentences, translated sentences obtained as a result of machine translation processing are returned to the user terminal device 61.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a translation providing device, a user terminal device, and a program.

The travel support device according to the prior art includes means for a traveler to specify a language to be translated with travel information and to machine-translate the travel information. However, travel information includes information based on specialized knowledge about history and culture, and machine translation sometimes has poor quality of translation.
In the prior art, information on how to read kanji in note data included in a map is stored, and proper nouns and the like are to be translated accurately. However, this technique may not improve the quality of translation except for how to read kanji.
In the prior art, there is a system in which an image captured by a camera function of a mobile terminal is transmitted to the center side, and information related to characters included in the image is returned from the center side to the mobile terminal. However, with this technique, information registered in a dictionary or the like is only transmitted to the mobile terminal, and there is a possibility that it is not possible to sufficiently cope with unknown information.
In the prior art, there is a system that translates images in real time using a portable information terminal. However, this system is intended for information of a few words at most, and there is a possibility that long sentences cannot be translated with high quality.

JP 2003-006293 A JP 2010-123139 A JP 2013-061830 A JP 2011-243177 A US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0090253

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a translation providing apparatus, a user terminal device, and a program capable of providing a high quality translation of a sentence (description) described on an explanation board or the like. It is.

  The translated sentence providing apparatus according to the embodiment includes an explanation board information storage unit, a translated sentence storage unit, a machine translation processing unit, and a translation request processing unit. An explanation board information storage part memorizes position information on the explanation board and an image of the explanation board for each explanation board on which an explanation is described. The translation sentence storage unit stores a translation sentence in the language of the explanation sentence described on the explanation board for each explanation board and for each language. The machine translation processing unit performs machine translation processing of the sentence. The translation request processing unit receives a translation request message including position information and an image and information representing a desired language from the user terminal device, and receives the received position information, the received image, and the explanation board information. A description board is specified based on the position information and the image stored in the storage section, and the translated sentence of the specified description board in the desired language is referred to by referring to the translation sentence storage section. Is determined by the translated sentence storage unit, and the translated sentence storage unit stores a translated sentence in the desired language of the specified explanation board as a result of the determination process. If the translated text is returned to the user terminal device, the translated text storage unit does not store the translated text in the desired language of the specified explanation board as a result of the discrimination process. It returns the translation of the machine translation processing unit is obtained as a result of the machine translation process a description of the description plate which is the specific to the desired language on the user terminal device.

The block diagram which shows schematic function structure of the translated text provision server apparatus of embodiment. Schematic which shows an example of the image (photograph) of the explanatory plate which the translation provision server apparatus of embodiment receives from a user terminal device. The image is a perspective view of the explanation plate. Schematic which shows the data structure of the explanatory board information storage part which the translated sentence provision server apparatus of embodiment hold | maintains. Schematic which shows the data structure of the translated sentence memory | storage part which the translated sentence provision server apparatus of embodiment hold | maintains. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process in which the translated sentence provision server apparatus of embodiment provides a translated sentence. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process for the translation provision server apparatus of embodiment to produce | generate and output a translation recommendation message. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process for the translated sentence provision server apparatus of embodiment to acquire the translated sentence by a translator. Schematic which shows an example of the service image to which the technique of embodiment is applied. Schematic which shows an example of the service image to which the technique of embodiment is applied.

  Hereinafter, a translation providing apparatus, a user terminal device, and a program according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The present embodiment is a translated text providing server device for providing a translated text of an explanatory text written on an explanatory board or the like. In facilities such as historic sites, sightseeing spots, and parks, there are often provided explanatory boards with explanatory texts about the facilities. There are many such explanation boards all over the country, which can be a factor to increase the number of fans and repeaters in the area. However, in many cases, only explanations in the local language (for example, Japanese) are written on the explanation board. In some cases, the translated text of the explanatory text is written on the explanatory board, but it is limited to the translated text in the main language (for example, English or Chinese). By implementing this embodiment, visitors who do not understand these languages can be expected to deepen their understanding of the facility and the area.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of a translated text providing server apparatus (translated text providing apparatus) according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the translation providing server device 1 includes a translation request processing unit 11, an image recognition processing unit 21, a character recognition processing unit 22, a machine translation processing unit 23, a database 30, and a facility manager interface unit. 41 and a translator interface unit 42. The translated text providing server device 1 is configured to be able to communicate with an external device via a communication line such as the Internet. Specifically, the translated text providing server device 1 can communicate with each of the user terminal device 61, the facility manager terminal device 62, and the translator terminal device 63. The translation request processing unit 11 communicates with the user terminal device 61 via the Internet. The facility manager interface unit 41 communicates with the facility manager terminal device 62 via the Internet. The translator interface unit 42 communicates with the translator terminal device 63 via the Internet.
The translated sentence providing server device 1, the user terminal device 61, the facility manager terminal device 62, and the translator terminal device 63 are realized as an information processing device using an electronic circuit. You may make it implement | achieve the translation provision server apparatus 1 using a computer server apparatus and the program run on the computer.
A plurality of user terminal devices 61, facility manager terminal devices 62, and translator terminal devices 63 may exist, but only one is shown in the figure.

Below, the function of each part which the translation provision server apparatus 1 has is demonstrated.
The translation request processing unit 11 performs processing corresponding to the translation request from the user terminal device 61. Specifically, the translation request processing unit 11 receives from the user terminal device 61 a translation request message including position information, an image, and information representing a desired translation language. Further, the translation request processing unit 11 specifies an explanation board based on the received position information and the received image, and the position information and image stored in the explanation board information storage unit 31. In addition, the translation request processing unit 11 refers to the translation sentence storage unit 32 to determine whether or not the translation sentence storage unit 32 stores a translation of the specified explanation board in a desired language. Process. Moreover, the translation request | requirement process part 11 memorize | stores the translation sentence memory | storage part 32, when the translation sentence memory | storage part 32 has memorize | stored the translation sentence by the desired language of the specified description board as a result of the said discrimination | determination process. The corresponding translation is returned to the user terminal device 61. Moreover, the translation request | requirement process part 11 specifies the machine translation process part 23, when the translation sentence memory | storage part 32 has not memorize | stored the translation sentence by the desired language of the specified description board as a result of the said discrimination | determination process. The translated text obtained as a result of machine translation processing of the explanatory text on the explanatory board into the desired language is returned to the user terminal device 61.
Further, the translation request processing unit 11 returns information indicating whether or not the translation sentence is obtained as a result of the machine translation process to the user terminal device 61 in accordance with the result of the discrimination process.

The image recognition processing unit 21 has a function of recognizing an image and extracting an explanation board or the like in the image. In addition, the image recognition processing unit 21 performs processing for extracting the feature amount of the image.
The character recognition processing unit 22 performs character recognition processing based on a request from the translation request processing unit 11 or the like. Specifically, the character recognition processing unit 22 receives image data including a character string, and cuts out an area in which characters are described from the image. Then, the character recognition processing unit 22 performs character recognition processing for each character included in the cut-out area, and returns the character string data obtained as a result to the request source function unit. The character recognition process itself can be performed using existing technology. The character recognition processing unit 22 performs a recognition process by holding in advance a feature as an image for each character and comparing it with a feature extracted from a character to be recognized.

  The machine translation processing unit 23 performs machine translation processing of sentences. In addition, the machine translation process itself of the sentence by a natural language is performed by using the existing technique. The machine translation processing unit 23 stores therein dictionary information in each language and translation model information for machine translation processing.

  The database 30 holds information about the explanation board and translation data of sentences written on the explanation board. The database 30 includes an explanation board information storage unit 31 and a translation sentence storage unit 32. Information held by each of the explanation board information storage unit 31 and the translated sentence storage unit 32 will be described later with reference to the drawings. The database 30 can be accessed from each functional unit in the translated text providing server device 1 in order to read and write data.

The explanation board information storage part 31 memorize | stores the positional information on an explanation board and the image of an explanation board for every explanation board in which the explanatory note was described.
The translation sentence storage unit 32 stores a translation sentence in the language of the explanation sentence written on the explanation board for each explanation board and for each language. Moreover, the translation sentence memory | storage part 32 memorize | stores the access log | history which is the information of the log | history in which the translation request | requirement process part 11 returned the translated sentence to the user terminal device 61 for every description board and for every language.
Details of the explanation board information storage unit 31 and the translated sentence storage unit 32 will be described later with reference to the drawings.

The facility manager interface unit 41 has an interface function for the facility manager terminal device 62. As one of the processes, the facility manager interface unit 41 translates the facility manager that manages the explanation board when the translation sentence storage section 32 does not store the translation sentence regarding the combination of the explanation board and the language. A recommendation message is generated, and the generated translation recommendation message is transmitted to the facility manager terminal device 62. The facility manager interface unit 41 holds the position information of the explanation board, the geographical range of the facility, and the correspondence information of the facility manager. In addition, the facility manager interface unit 41 has a function of obtaining approval of a translation sentence created by a translator from the facility manager.
When the facility manager interface unit 41 generates the translation recommendation message, the facility manager interface unit 41 selects a combination of the explanation board and the language based on the access history stored in the translated sentence storage unit 32. Specifically, the facility manager interface unit 41 gives higher priority to the combination of the explanation board and the language in which the frequency of the translation request message sent from the user terminal device 61 is high (that is, the frequency of the translation sent is high). To select. That is, the facility manager interface unit 41 generates and transmits a translation recommendation message by giving priority to a combination of an explanation board and a language that are frequently accessed.

  The translator interface unit 42 has an interface function with respect to the translator terminal device 63 for the translator and the translator approver. Specifically, the translator interface unit 42 transmits a translation request message to the translator terminal device 63 for the translator. Further, the translator interface unit 42 receives the created translation from the translator terminal device 63. In addition, the translator interface unit 42 transmits a message requesting approval of the translation to the translator terminal device 63 of the translator approver. Further, the translator interface unit 42 receives a message for approving the translation from the translator terminal device 63 of the translator approver. The translator interface unit 42 holds information on translators suitable for each region and field, for each region of the explanation board and for each field such as history and geography.

The user terminal device 61 is a terminal device used by a user who uses information on an explanation board in a sightseeing spot or the like. The user terminal device 61 has a camera function for taking a digital photograph.
Further, the facility manager terminal device 62 is a terminal device used by a management worker such as an organization that manages the explanation board.
The translator terminal device 63 is a terminal device used by a translator who undertakes translation of a text written in a natural language. In addition, the translator terminal device 63 for the translator who performs the actual translation work and the translator terminal device 63 for the translation approver who has the role of approving the translation result by the translator are individually provided. May be.

  Note that the user terminal device 61, the facility manager terminal device 62, and the translator terminal device 63 are all realized using a technology such as a computer. Each of the user terminal device 61, the facility manager terminal device 62, and the translator terminal device 63 is an information device such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet terminal, a smartphone (smartphone), or a wearable terminal. The user terminal device 61, the facility manager terminal device 62, and the translator terminal device 63 are each a processing device (such as a CPU) for processing data, input / output means such as a display, a touch panel, and a keyboard; Communication means for communicating.

The user terminal device 61 cooperates with the translated text providing server device 1 to acquire the translated text on the explanation board and display it on the screen. A function for the processing is installed in the user terminal device 61 in advance as an application (application program), for example.
More specifically, the user terminal device 61 transmits a translated sentence request message including position information of the explanation board, an image of the explanation board, and information representing a desired language to the translation sentence providing server apparatus 1. Then, the user terminal device 61 obtains a translation sentence in a desired language from the translation sentence providing server apparatus 1 and information indicating whether or not the translation sentence is a translation sentence obtained as a result of the machine translation process. Receive. Then, the user terminal device 61 displays the received translated sentence on the screen, and displays information indicating whether the translated sentence is a translated sentence obtained as a result of the machine translation process on the screen.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an explanation board image received from the user terminal device by the translated text providing server device according to the present embodiment. The image shown in the figure is an explanatory board explaining the sea of trees provided in a national park in Japan. In many cases, such explanatory boards are set up by government agencies (including local governments such as prefectures and municipalities) and their external agencies (tourism associations for each municipality). The image which the tourist etc. who visited the place of this explanatory board image | photographed using the camera function which the user terminal device 61 has is an image shown in the figure.

The user terminal device 61 translates the captured image of the explanatory board (image including the character string of the explanatory text) and the desired language type (for example, English, Chinese, Spanish, etc.) into the translated text providing server apparatus 1. Can be sent to. Further, when the user terminal device 61 has a GPS function, the location information acquired by the GPS may be transmitted to the translated text providing server device 1 together. Note that “GPS” is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System. The position information that can be acquired by GPS is latitude and longitude information having an accuracy of an error of several meters. Then, the translated text providing server device 1 transmits a translated text in the designated language to the requesting user terminal device 61.
In the example shown in the figure, an explanatory note in Japanese is written on the explanation board, but the explanatory note may be written in another language.

Next, the configuration of main data held in the database 30 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data configuration of the explanation board information storage unit held by the database according to the present embodiment.
As illustrated, the explanation board information storage unit 31 is tabular data. The explanation board information storage unit 31 is realized as one table of a relational database or an object-oriented database, for example. The table of the explanation board information storage unit 31 has explanation board ID, position, title character, image feature, and image columns (also referred to as “row” or “item”). Each row of this table corresponds to one explanation board. The main key of this table is an explanation board ID. Hereinafter, each data item will be described.

The explanation board ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the explanation board. “ID” is an abbreviation for “identifier” or “identification”. The explanation board ID is assigned to each explanation board based on a rule determined by an administrator of the system. Alternatively, the explanation board ID may be automatically assigned by the present system.
The position is information representing the position where the explanation board exists. The information on the position held in this item is, for example, information represented by latitude and longitude, and is accurate enough to identify the explanation board. The position information is given from the facility manager terminal device 62, for example. Alternatively, the position information is estimated based on position information transmitted from the plurality of user terminal devices 61.
The title character is character information that can be a heading of the explanation board. In the case of the explanation board illustrated in FIG. 2, the title character is “OOOO Jukai”. The title character information is given from the facility manager terminal device 62, for example. Alternatively, the title character information is obtained by performing character recognition processing based on the image sent from the user terminal device 61.

  The image feature is information representing the feature of the image on the explanation board. As the image feature, various feature amounts according to existing techniques can be used. For example, an LBP feature value can be used as the image feature value, but other feature values may be used. Note that “LBP” is an abbreviation for Local Binary Pattern. The image feature amount is calculated based on an image in which the explanation board is shown. Further, when an image is updated or added, the image feature amount may be recalculated and this data item may be stored again as data. Note that an image feature amount may be stored for each image, or an image feature amount common to a plurality of images may be stored.

  The image is image data of a photograph showing an explanation board. It is also possible to hold a plurality of images for one explanation board. The explanatory board information storage unit 31 holds one or a plurality of images transmitted from the user terminal device 61.

  In this embodiment, the explanation board information storage unit 31 stores image feature data. However, the explanation board information storage unit 31 may not hold image features. Even in this case, the image feature can be calculated every time the image feature is required based on the image stored in the explanation board information storage unit 31.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a data configuration of the translated sentence storage unit held by the database according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the translated sentence storage unit 32 is tabular data. The translated sentence storage unit 32 is realized as one table of a relational database or an object-oriented database, for example. The table of the translated sentence storage unit 32 has columns (also referred to as “rows” or “items”) of explanation board ID, language ID, status, translated sentence, and access history. The primary key of this table is a composite key of explanation board ID and language ID. Hereinafter, each data item will be described.

The explanation board ID is information for uniquely identifying the explanation board. The explanation board information storage unit 31 and the translated sentence storage unit 32 are associated with each other using the explanation board ID as a key.
The language ID is information for identifying the language type. For example, the English language ID is “EN”, the Chinese language ID is “CN”, and the Spanish language ID is “ES”. However, other language ID body shapes may be used.
The status is information indicating whether or not a translation is stored in the translation storage 32 for the combination of the explanation board ID and the language ID. When the status is “translated text”, the translated text storage unit 32 holds the explanatory board ID and the translated text of the language ID. When the status is “no translation”, the translation storage 32 does not hold the explanation board ID and the translation of the language ID. Even in the case of “no translation”, there may be a record for holding the access history.
The translated sentence holds a translated sentence created by a translator (person) for the combination of the explanation board ID and the language ID.
The access history holds information representing the history of translation request from the user terminal device 61 for the combination of the explanation board ID and the language ID. For example, all the information on the date and time when the translated text request is received from the user terminal device 61 is stored in this access history column. Alternatively, in the access history column, information on the frequency with which a translated sentence is requested every predetermined period is stored. Here, the frequency information is a value obtained by counting the number of translation request requests from the user terminal device 61 every predetermined period such as every day, every week, every month, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, only the translated text created by the translator is stored in the translated text column, but a translated text that is a machine translation result may be stored. In this case, the information in the status column is used to distinguish whether a translated sentence by a translator is stored or a translated sentence by machine translation is stored.

Next, a processing procedure in the translated text providing server apparatus will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing in which the translated text providing server device according to the present embodiment provides the translated text.
As a premise that the translated sentence providing server apparatus 1 performs the processing of this flowchart, the user terminal device 61 transmits a translated sentence request message for requesting a translated sentence to the translated sentence providing server apparatus 1. At this time, the translated sentence request message is accompanied by at least one of image data obtained by copying the explanation board or position information acquired by the user terminal device 61 using the GPS function. Note that both the image data and the position information may be attached. The translation request message is accompanied by information for identifying the requested language type. In the user terminal device 61, the language type can be selected by the user's operation. Alternatively, information on the language type desired by the user may be set in the memory in the user terminal device 61 in advance. Here, the language type means different languages such as English, Chinese, French, Spanish, and the like. The translated text providing server device 1 waits for a translated text request message from the user terminal device 61.

Hereinafter, it demonstrates along this flowchart.
In step S <b> 1, the translation request processing unit 11 receives the translation request message transmitted from the user terminal device 61. And the translation request process part 11 acquires the information for specifying an explanatory board from a translation sentence request message. The information for specifying the explanation board is an image obtained by copying the explanation board and the position information of the user terminal device 61 that is the request source. Also, the translation request processing unit 11 acquires a language ID representing the language type of the requested translation sentence from the translation sentence request message.

Next, in step S <b> 2, the translation request processing unit 11 searches the explanation plate information storage unit 31 and specifies the explanation plate ID of the explanation plate requested from the user terminal device 61 side. When performing this search, the translation request processing unit 11 uses position information, image features, and a title character string as search keys. The translation request processing unit 11 may use only a part of the position information, the image feature, and the title character string as a search key, or may use a search key that combines all of them.
The position information used as the search key is the position information of the user terminal device 61. When the distance between the position of the user terminal device 61 and the position of the explanation board stored in the explanation board information storage unit 31 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the search condition is met.
The image feature used as the search key is an image feature calculated by the image recognition processing unit 21 for the image received by the translation request processing unit 11 from the user terminal device 61 side. When the similarity between the image feature calculated by the image recognition processing unit 21 and the image feature stored in the explanation board information storage unit 31 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the search condition is met.
The title character string used as the search key is obtained as a result of the character recognition processing unit 22 performing character recognition processing on the image received by the translation request processing unit 11 from the user terminal device 61 side. Note that the character recognition processing unit 22 performs character recognition processing on an area most likely to be a title character string in a given image.
In the search in this step, when a plurality of explanation boards are extracted as candidates, the explanation board with the highest likelihood is selected based on the position information and image features.

  Next, in step S3, the translation request processing unit 11 determines whether or not a corresponding explanation board exists as a result of the search in step S2 above. When the information on the corresponding explanatory plate exists in the explanatory plate information storage unit 31 (step S3: YES), the corresponding explanatory plate ID is acquired, and the process jumps to the process of step S5. If there is no information on the corresponding explanatory plate in the explanatory plate information storage unit 31 (step S3: NO), the process proceeds to the next step S4.

Next, when it progresses to step S4, the translation request | requirement process part 11 adds and registers a new record in the table of the explanatory board information storage part 31 in the same step. At this time, the translation request processing unit 11 appropriately assigns a new explanation board ID. Further, the translation request processing unit 11 registers the position information obtained from the user terminal device 61. Further, the translation request processing unit 11 registers the title character obtained as a result of the character recognition process based on the image received from the user terminal device 61 as the title character. Further, the translation request processing unit 11 registers an image obtained from the user terminal device 61 and image feature information calculated based on the image.
Through the processing in this step, the translated text can be provided for the new explanation board that has not been registered in the database.
The explanation board information registered in this step may be corrected later from the facility manager terminal device 62.

  Next, in step S5, the translation request processing unit 11 searches the table in the translated sentence storage unit 32 using the explanation board ID and the language ID as keys. At this time, the explanation board ID used as the search key is the explanation board ID hit in the search process in step S2 or the explanation board ID newly registered in step S4. The language ID used as the search key is the language ID sent from the user terminal device 61 together with the translation request message. In this step, a search is performed based on the AND condition of the match of the explanation board ID and the match of the language ID. By searching in this step, a translation sentence in a desired language of the target explanation board is searched in the translation sentence storage unit 32.

  Next, in step S6, the translation request processing unit 11 determines whether or not the corresponding translated sentence exists as a result of the search in step S5 above. If the corresponding translated sentence exists in the translated sentence storage unit 32 (step S6: YES), the corresponding translated sentence is acquired, and the process jumps to step S8. If the corresponding translation does not exist in the translation storage 32 (step S6: NO), the process proceeds to the next step S7.

Next, when it progresses to step S7, the translation request process part 11 performs the machine translation process of an explanatory note in the same step. Specifically, the translation request processing unit 11 requests the character recognition processing unit 22 for character recognition processing based on the image attached to the translation request message from the user terminal device 61. The translation request processing unit 11 receives the character string data of the recognition result from the character recognition processing unit 22. Then, the translation request processing unit 11 requests the machine translation processing unit 23 to translate the character string into the language identified by the language ID.
When the machine translation process is completed, the translation request processing unit 11 acquires the obtained translation sentence from the machine translation processing unit 23.

Next, in step S <b> 8, the translation request processing unit 11 returns a response including the obtained translated sentence to the user terminal device 61. If the translated sentence exists in the translated sentence storage unit 32 (when the determination result in step S6 is YES), the translation request processing unit 11 reads the translated sentence read from the translated sentence storage unit 32. Return to the user terminal device 61. When the translated sentence does not exist in the translated sentence storage unit 32 (when the determination result in step S6 is NO), the translation request processing unit 11 stores the translated sentence obtained by the machine translation process. Return to the user terminal device 61.
Also, the translation request processing unit 11 updates the access history column in the translated sentence storage unit 32 as needed at the timing when the translated sentence is returned to the user terminal device 61.
In addition, the translation request | requirement process part 11 attaches the data which show that it is a machine translation result, when returning the process result by machine translation to the user terminal device 61. FIG. In addition, when the translation request processing unit 11 returns the translation result by the translator (person) to the user terminal device 61, data indicating that the translation is performed by the translator may be added.
Then, when the process of step S8 ends, the translated text providing server apparatus 1 ends the process of the entire flowchart.

  By performing the series of processing steps described above, the translated text providing server device 1 can use the user terminal device 61 whether or not the translated text created by the translator is held. The translation of the explanation board can be provided. Moreover, the translation provision server device 1 provides the user terminal device 61 with a translation having a higher quality than the translation by machine translation when the translation prepared by the translator is held in advance. can do. Moreover, the translation providing server device 1 can provide a translated sentence of an explanatory sentence even for an unknown explanation board that is not registered in advance.

Next, a modification of this embodiment will be described.
As described above, the matters described on the explanation board are often based on various cultural backgrounds. Therefore, there may be a difference in quality between the translated text by machine translation and the translated text by the translator (person). In general, it can be said that the quality of translations by translators is higher than the quality of translations by machine translation. In the present embodiment, the translated text by the translator can be stored in the translated text storage unit 32. The facility manager can request the translator to perform a translation work. However, when the translation work is performed for a fee, it may be difficult for the facility manager to determine whether the translation work should be requested at a high cost. In addition, it may be difficult for facility managers to know which explanation boards should be requested for translation work. Therefore, in this modified example, in order to promote highly effective translation work, the facility manager interface unit 41 selects an explanation board to be translated and recommends it to the facility manager.

In the present embodiment, data (not shown) for associating the installation position of the explanation board with the facility manager is held. Facility managers are government agencies (including local governments) and their external organizations, or personnel in those agencies.
As an example, this system assigns an ID to a facility manager and holds a table in which an explanation board ID and a facility manager ID are associated with each other. With such data, it is possible to grasp which facility manager is responsible for managing which explanation board.
As another example, this system holds data in which a range of a park or the like (geographic range represented by longitude and latitude) and a facility manager ID are associated with each other. Thereby, the facility manager of a certain park and the explanation board included in the range of the park can be related and grasped.
In this way, in a situation where the facility manager and the explanation board are associated with each other, the facility manager interface unit 41 generates and outputs a translation recommendation message for the facility manager.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the translated text providing server apparatus to generate and output a translation recommendation message. Hereinafter, the processing procedure will be described with reference to this flowchart.
In step S <b> 21, the facility manager interface unit 41 identifies the facility and manager to be processed. Here, the facility manager interface unit 41 determines a facility and a manager to be processed based on input from the outside.

  Next, in step S22, the facility manager interface unit 41 specifies the geographical range of the facility (park or the like) to be processed. Here, the geographical range is represented as a polygon on the map, for example. At this time, the geographical range of the facility can be determined by designating the latitude and longitude of each vertex of the polygon.

  Next, in step S23, the facility manager interface unit 41 searches the table in the explanation plate information storage unit 31 to extract all the explanation plates included in the geographical range specified in step S22. Whether or not a certain explanatory board is included in a specific geographical area is determined by the position (latitude and lightness) of the explanatory board and the definition of the geographical area.

Next, in step S24, the facility manager interface unit 41 extracts an explanation board ID and a language ID that are subject to translation recommendation from the explanation boards extracted in step S23 based on a predetermined translation recommendation condition. Here, an example of the translation recommendation condition is the following conditions (1) and (2).
(1) The explanation board is registered in the table of the explanation board information storage unit 31.
(2) Although there is an access history for the combination of the explanation board ID and the language ID in the table of the translation sentence storage unit 32, “no translation sentence” is recorded as the status in the combination. That is, the facility manager interface unit 41 extracts a combination of an explanation board ID and a language ID that satisfy both the above conditions (1) and (2) as a translation recommendation target.

  When there are a plurality of combinations of explanation board IDs and language IDs that satisfy the above conditions (1) and (2), the facility manager interface unit 41 stores the access history data in the translated sentence storage unit 32. Refer to and give priority to combinations with high access frequency. That is, a predetermined number of combinations of explanation board IDs and language IDs with a high access frequency are extracted as translation recommendation targets.

  Note that the facility manager interface unit 41 may extract a combination of the explanation board ID and the language ID that are translation recommendation targets based on conditions other than the above (1) and (2).

  Next, in step S25, the facility manager interface unit 41 generates a translation recommendation message for each combination of the explanation board ID and the language ID selected in step S24. Note that the translation recommendation message includes, for example, the position (latitude and longitude) of the explanation board, title characters, and information on the language type for which translation is recommended. The translation recommendation message may further include access history information. The translation recommendation message may further include an image of the explanation board. The information included in the translation recommendation message can be acquired from the explanation board information storage unit 31 and the translated sentence storage unit 32.

  Next, in step S26, the facility manager interface unit 41 outputs the generated translation recommendation message. Specifically, the facility manager interface unit 41 sends a translation recommendation message to the facility manager terminal device 62 as document data in text format, HTML format, PDF format or the like. Note that HTML is an abbreviation for Hyper-text Markup Language. PDF is an abbreviation for Portable Document Format. Further, the facility manager interface unit 41 may print out the translation recommendation message from a printer or the like.

  In the process shown in this flowchart, an explanation board that is a candidate for a translation recommendation target is selected by specifying an administrator and a facility. A set may be determined.

Next, a description will be given of a method in which a translated sentence providing server device acquires a translated sentence created by a translator.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for the translated sentence providing server apparatus according to the present embodiment to obtain a translated sentence by the translator. The premise that the process of this flowchart is executed is that a message of a translation request is transmitted from the facility manager terminal device 62 to the translated text providing server device 1. The message for requesting translation includes information for specifying the explanation board (for example, explanation board ID) and information for specifying the language type of the translation destination (for example, language ID). The translated text providing server device 1 is waiting in advance for a translation request message from the facility manager terminal device 62.
Hereinafter, the processing procedure will be described with reference to this flowchart.

  In step S41, the facility manager interface unit 41 receives a translation request message. Then, the facility manager interface unit 41 acquires the explanation board ID and the language ID from the translation request message and passes them to the translator interface unit 42.

Next, in step S42, the translator interface unit 42 selects a translator based on the explanation board ID and language ID received from the facility manager interface unit 41. Although the method of selecting a translator is arbitrary, for example, it can be selected by the following method. For example, translation skill data for each translator and for each language is stored in advance, and the translator interface unit 42 selects a translator with a high translation skill based on the acquired language ID. Further, for example, knowledge level data of the subject field for each translator is stored in advance, and the translator interface unit 42 selects a translator with a high knowledge level based on the explanation board ID. Here, the target field is the area where the explanation board is installed and the genre (history, geography, natural science, etc.) of the contents explained by the explanation board. Alternatively, the translator interface unit 42 may select a translator who can perform translation work with a predetermined delivery date by previously storing data on the operational status (schedule) of each translator. Further, the translator interface unit 42 may select a translator based on a plurality of criteria. Further, the translator interface unit 42 may select a translator in accordance with information input from a person in charge of operating the translated text providing server device 1.
Next, in step S <b> 43, the translator interface unit 42 reads an image of the explanation plate to be translated from the explanation plate information storage unit 31 based on the received explanation plate ID. At this time, if there are a plurality of images regarding the corresponding explanation board, the translator interface unit 42 may read the plurality of images.

  Next, in step S44, the translator interface unit 42 transmits the translation request message to the translator terminal device 63 of the corresponding translator. The translator interface unit 42 attaches the image read in step S43 to the translation request message to be transmitted. The translator interface unit 42 may attach the text data of the explanatory text provided by the facility manager to the translation request message.

  Next, in step S45, the translator interface unit 42 waits for a completed translation to be transmitted from the translator terminal device 63 of the requested translator.

  Next, when the translated text from the requested translator terminal device 63 is received, in step S46, the translator interface unit 42 transmits the translated text to the translator terminal device 63 of the translation approver. At this time, the translator interface unit 42 also sends a message requesting the translation approver to approve the translation.

  Next, in step S47, the translator interface unit 42 waits for data representing approval of the translated sentence to be transmitted from the translator terminal device 63 of the translator approver.

  Next, upon receiving approval data from the translator approver terminal device 63 of the translation approver, the facility manager interface unit 41 requests the facility manager terminal device 62 to approve the translated text in step S48. Send. At this time, the facility manager interface unit 41 attaches the translated text and data indicating that the translated text has been approved by the translation approver.

  Next, in step S <b> 49, the facility manager interface unit 41 waits for data representing approval of the translated text to be transmitted from the facility manager terminal device 62.

The facility manager interface unit 41 receives data representing approval of the translation from the facility manager terminal device 62. At this stage, all necessary approvals have been obtained for the translation made by the translator.
In step S <b> 50, the translator interface unit 42 writes the approved translated sentence in the table of the translated sentence storage unit 32. At this time, if the combination of the corresponding explanation board ID and language ID does not exist in the table of the translated sentence storage unit 32, the translator interface unit 42 inserts a record of the combination into the table. When the record of the combination of the corresponding explanation board ID and language ID already exists in the table of the translated sentence storage unit 32, the translator interface unit 42 updates the translated sentence column of the record. In either case, the translator interface unit 42 updates the status column to “with translation” when writing the translation into the translation storage 32.

  In the process of this flowchart, a response from the terminal device side is waited in each of step S45, step S47, and step S49, but the process may be temporarily terminated in each step. In that case, the processing from the next step is resumed when the response from the terminal device comes.

Next, an overview of services provided using the translated text providing server apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a service image to which the technology of the present embodiment is applied. The figure shows a scene in which a translated sentence is provided to a user who uses the user terminal device 61. The explanation board translation platform, user-side functions, administrator-side functions, image recognition engine, character recognition engine, machine translation engine, and explanation board-specific language translation result database in FIG. This corresponds to the providing server device. The user (in the figure, “foreigner visiting Japan”), with regard to the explanation board of “hanging kofun”, information on the location of the GPS, image information of the signboard (description board), and the language desired for translation (for example, English) Information is transmitted to the translated sentence providing server device. In response to this, the translated text providing server device returns the translation result to the user side. In addition, the explanation board installer / related person uses the terminal device (facility manager terminal device 62 shown in FIG. 1) to update information as necessary. Specifically, the explanation board installer / related person calls the self-management explanation board and corrects / updates the explanation to the correct explanation while utilizing the machine translation result.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a service image to which the technology of the present embodiment is applied. This figure also shows other scenes in addition to the scenes described in FIG. In the example shown in the drawing, a service using a translation sentence providing server device is maintained and operated using a cloud service and crowdsourcing mechanism.
The translated text providing server device performs sorting by automatic processing. Here, the distribution is a process of distributing the processing for each explanation board to the explanation board installation manager.
The translated text providing server device performs automatic distribution to the explanation board installation manager based on the GPS information of the photographed image and the image recognition result. For example, processing related to explanation boards in national parks is assigned to the Ministry of the Environment, and processing related to explanation boards in national parks is assigned to prefectures and the like.
If this automatic distribution is not possible, the distribution manager is notified of this.
The explanation board installation manager determines whether or not the corresponding explanation board is to be translated, and when translating it, instructs the system to “request for a fee”. The system then automatically assigns the appropriate cloud worker (translator). When the processing of the signboard (explanation board) that is not in charge of the own organization has been distributed, the explanatory board installation manager returns the processing to the distribution manager.

A cloud worker (translator) translates sentences. After that, the system distributes to appropriate approvers according to the fields of language and contents of the explanation board.
The cloud worker (approver) browses the translation results and confirms that there are no problems.
The explanation board installation manager finally confirms that there is no problem in the translation result approved by the approver. The confirmed translation is registered in the translation result database.

In the above embodiment, the translated text providing server device has the function of the facility manager interface unit. However, the translated text providing server device may be configured by omitting the facility manager interface unit.
In the above embodiment, the translated text providing server device has the function of the translator interface unit. However, the translated text providing server device may be configured by omitting the translator interface unit.

  According to at least one embodiment described above, a translation request message is received, and a translation corresponding to the requested combination of explanation board ID and language ID is stored in the translation storage unit. If it is stored, the translated sentence is read and the read translated sentence is returned to the requesting terminal device. A translation request processing unit that requests the translation part and returns the translated sentence as a result of the machine translation process to the requesting terminal device. A quality translation can be provided, and a translation by machine translation can be provided even when there is no translation translated by a translator (person).

In addition, when there is no corresponding explanation board in the explanation board information storage unit 31, a new explanation board or a new explanation board or the like without needing to perform initial registration of the explanation board is inserted in order to newly insert a record corresponding to the explanation board. Can handle unknown explanation boards.
Moreover, since the facility manager interface unit 41 creates a translation recommendation message according to the access frequency, it is possible to preferentially prepare a translation sentence by a translator (person) for a language with a high demand for an explanation board with a high demand. it can.

  Note that some or all of the functions of the translated text providing server device, the user terminal device, the facility manager terminal device, and the translator terminal device in the embodiments may be realized by a computer. In that case, the program for realizing these functions may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, a “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time, like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client in that case may be included and a program held for a certain period of time. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the above-described functions, or may be a program that can realize the above-described functions in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Translation sentence provision server apparatus (translation sentence provision apparatus), 11 ... Translation request process part, 21 ... Image recognition process part, 22 ... Character recognition process part, 23 ... Machine translation process part, 30 ... Database, 31 ... Explanation board Information storage unit, 32 ... Translation sentence storage unit, 41 ... Facility manager interface unit, 42 ... Translator interface unit, 61 ... User terminal device, 62 ... Facility manager terminal device, 63 ... Translator terminal device

Claims (7)

For each explanation board on which explanations are described, an explanation board information storage unit that stores position information of the explanation board and an image of the explanation board;
For each explanation board and each language, a translation sentence storage unit that stores a translation sentence in the language of the explanation sentence described in the explanation board;
A machine translation processing section for machine translation processing of sentences;
A translation request message including position information, an image, and information representing a desired language is received from the user terminal device, and is stored in the received position information, the received image, and the explanation board information storage unit. The translated sentence storage unit specifies a translated sentence in the desired language of the identified explanatory board by specifying the explanatory board based on the position information and the image and referring to the translated sentence storage unit. If the translated sentence storage unit stores a translated sentence in the desired language of the specified explanatory plate as a result of the determining process, the translation process is performed. When the translated sentence storage unit does not store a translated sentence in the desired language of the specified explanation board as a result of the determination process, the machine translation processing unit returns the sentence to the user terminal device Returns the translation resulting of the machine translation process a description of the description plate which is the specific to the desired language on the user terminal device, and the translation request processing unit,
A translated sentence providing apparatus. The translation request processing unit returns information indicating whether or not the translated sentence is obtained as a result of machine translation processing to the user terminal device according to the result of the determination processing.
The translation providing apparatus according to claim 1. Regarding the combination of the explanation board and the language, when the translation sentence storage unit does not store the translation sentence, a translation recommendation message is generated for the facility manager who manages the explanation board, and the generated translation recommendation message A facility manager interface unit for transmitting the information to the facility manager terminal device,
The translation providing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The translated sentence storage unit stores an access history which is information of a history of the translation request processing unit returning the translated sentence to the user terminal device for each explanation board and for each language,
The facility manager interface unit gives higher priority to the combination of the explanation board and the language having a high frequency of the translated sentence request message sent from the user terminal device based on the access history stored in the translated sentence storage unit. And sending the translation recommendation message,
The translation providing apparatus according to claim 3. A translated sentence request message including the position information of the explanation board and the image of the explanation board and information indicating the desired language is transmitted to the translated sentence providing apparatus, and the translated sentence in the desired language is transmitted from the translated sentence providing apparatus. And the information indicating whether the translated sentence is a translated sentence obtained as a result of the machine translation process, and the translated sentence and the translated sentence are obtained as a result of the machine translation process Display information indicating whether or not there is on the screen,
User terminal device. Computer
For each explanation board on which explanations are described, an explanation board information storage unit that stores position information of the explanation board and an image of the explanation board;
For each explanation board and each language, a translation sentence storage unit that stores a translation sentence in the language of the explanation sentence described in the explanation board;
A machine translation processing section for machine translation processing of sentences;
A translation request message including position information, an image, and information representing a desired language is received from the user terminal device, and is stored in the received position information, the received image, and the explanation board information storage unit. The translated sentence storage unit specifies a translated sentence in the desired language of the identified explanatory board by specifying the explanatory board based on the position information and the image and referring to the translated sentence storage unit. If the translated sentence storage unit stores a translated sentence in the desired language of the specified explanatory plate as a result of the determining process, the translation process is performed. When the translated sentence storage unit does not store a translated sentence in the desired language of the specified explanation board as a result of the determination process, the machine translation processing unit returns the sentence to the user terminal device Returns the translation resulting of the machine translation process a description of the description plate which is the specific to the desired language on the user terminal device, and the translation request processing unit,
A program for functioning as a translated sentence providing apparatus. Computer
A translated sentence request message including the position information of the explanation board and the image of the explanation board and information indicating the desired language is transmitted to the translated sentence providing apparatus, and the translated sentence in the desired language is transmitted from the translated sentence providing apparatus. And the information indicating whether the translated sentence is a translated sentence obtained as a result of the machine translation process, and the translated sentence and the translated sentence are obtained as a result of the machine translation process A program for functioning as a user terminal device that displays information indicating whether or not there is on a screen.