JPH0991285A - Machine translation system and processing object word acquisition method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent erroneous designation of the start point and the end point of a word being the processing object by moving a cursor in the unit of words to simplify the designating operation of the word as the processing object. SOLUTION: When acquisition of an original word string from a picture is designated by depression of a picture acquisition key 11c provided in an input part 11, a control part 13 moves the cursor in the unit of words through a cursor control processing part 13c to acquire the start point and the end point of the original word string as the processing object. First, the control part 13 recognizes the present cursor position as the start point of the original word string. When a right arrow key 11d is depressed in this state, the control part 13 retrieves the first delimiter symbol in the right direction and recognizes its position as the present position. When a selection/execution key is depressed then, the control part 13 returns the present position in the left direction by one character and recognizes it as the end point of this original word string.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machine translation device for converting a word or sentence in a first language into a second language, and more particularly to a machine having a dictionary search function such as an English-Japanese dictionary search or a new word registration function. The present invention relates to a translation device and a processing target word acquisition method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a machine translation apparatus, an English sentence is input, and this is translated into Japanese and output.
This can be translated into English and output. By the way, in this type of machine translation device, when acquiring an original word string from the display screen and searching for a translated word string for the original word string,
A method is used in which the cursor is moved character by character to specify the range (start point and end point) of the original word string to be processed.

For example, "I have a boot
k. If you want to get "book" in it as the source language string for processing, move the cursor to "book".
It is necessary to move to "b" and "k" of "k" and specify the range.

This is also the case when registering a new word, and it is necessary to specify the range (start point and end point) of the original word string which is the processing target of new word registration while moving the cursor character by character.

In addition, in the new word registration, it is necessary to specify the source word string to be processed for the new word registration and then the translated word string for the original word string. At that time, even if the original word string and the translated word string are the same character string, the translated word string must be specified.

For example, when registering a new word for a translated word string "TOKYO" for an original word string "TOKYO", after specifying "TOKYO" as the original word string on the screen or by key input, the translated word string for the original word string As a result, "TOKYO" must be specified again.

[0007]

As described above, conventionally, when a dictionary is searched or a new word is registered, the cursor is moved character by character and the range (start point and end point) of the original word string to be processed is moved. Had to be specified.

Therefore, for example, "I have a b
look. When "book" is designated as the original word string to be processed from the sentence ",""book. ], “Boo”, and “book” could be specified incorrectly.

Further, in the new word registration, it is always necessary to specify both the original word string and the translated word string. Therefore, when both are the same character string, the specifying operation becomes troublesome, and when the translated word string is specified, a character string different from the original word string is erroneously specified.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and simplifies the operation of specifying a word to be processed in a dictionary search or a new word registration, and prevents mistakes in specifying the start point and the end point of the user, thereby preventing the user from making a mistake. It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine translation device and a process target word acquisition method that can reduce the burden of

Further, according to the present invention, when the original word string and the translated word string to be processed for new word registration are the same character string, the designation operation can be simplified and the load on the user can be reduced. It is intended to provide a method of acquiring a processing target word.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(1) The machine translation device of the present invention displays the original text data, the display means for instructing the movement of the cursor, and the original word string data to be processed in the dictionary search or new word registration from the original text data. At the time of acquisition, based on the cursor movement control means for moving the cursor in word units in accordance with the movement instruction by the instruction means, and the position of the cursor movement-controlled by the cursor movement control means, processing from the original text data is performed. An acquisition unit for acquiring the target original word string data is provided.

According to this structure, when the original word string data to be processed in the dictionary search or new word registration is acquired from the display screen of the original text data, the cursor is moved word by word and the original word to be processed is moved. You can get column data.

(2) The machine translation apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit for displaying original sentence data, an instruction unit for instructing movement of the cursor in word units or character units, and a dictionary search from the original sentence data. When acquiring the original word string data to be processed for new word registration, it is determined whether the movement instruction by the instruction means is in word units or character units,
Based on the cursor movement control means for moving the cursor in word units or character units according to the instruction content, and the position of the cursor controlled by the cursor movement control means, the original word to be processed from the original text data It is characterized by comprising an acquisition means for acquiring column data.

According to this structure, when the original word string data to be processed in the dictionary search or new word registration is acquired from the original text data display screen, the cursor is optionally moved in word units or character units. Thus, the original word string data to be processed can be acquired.

(3) The machine translation apparatus of the present invention comprises an original word specifying means for specifying original word string data to be processed for new word registration, and a translated word specifying means for specifying translated word string data to be processed for new word registration. When the original word string data is specified by the original word specifying unit, if the translated word string data is not specified by the translated word specifying unit, an acquisition unit that acquires the same character string as the original word string data as the translated word string data. Is provided.

According to this structure, after the original word string data to be processed for new word registration is specified, if the translated word string data is not specified for the original word string data, the same character string as the original word string data is used as the translated word string. It is acquired as data.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine translation apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This device has an English-Japanese dictionary function and a new word registration function. The English-Japanese dictionary function (dictionary search function) is a function for searching a translation word example for a source word example designated by a user, with the source language being English and the translation word being Japanese. The new word registration function is a function for a user to register a designated original word string and a corresponding translated word string in a new word dictionary.

This device has an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a control unit 13, a translation dictionary 14, a new word dictionary 15, and a storage unit 16. The input unit 11 is composed of, for example, a keyboard and inputs data and gives instructions. In this input section 11, "character"
In addition to the keys, the "number" key, the "select / execute" key, etc., here, the "English-Japanese dictionary" key 11a, the "new word registration" key 11
b, "screen acquisition" key 11c, "right arrow" key 11d,
"Left arrow" key 11e, "Function" key 11f
Having.

The "English-Japanese dictionary" key 11a is a key for instructing the English-Japanese dictionary function. "New word registration" key 11b
Is a key for instructing a new word registration function. The "screen acquisition" key 11c is a key for instructing acquisition of a word (original language string) from the screen at the time of dictionary search or new word registration.

The "right arrow" key 11d and the "left arrow" key 11e are cursor keys for instructing the movement of the cursor. Of these, the "right arrow" key 11d instructs the movement to the right, and the "left arrow" key 11e instructs the movement to the left. The "function" key 11f is a key for instructing a specific function, and is used here together with the "right arrow" key 11d or the "left arrow" key 11e.

The display unit 12 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cry).
A display device such as a stal display) or a CRT (cathode ray tube) is used to display data. Control unit 13
Controls the entire apparatus, and has a dictionary search processing unit 13a, a new word registration processing unit 13b, and a cursor control processing unit 13c here.

The dictionary search processing section 13a performs a process for searching the translation dictionary 14 for a translated word string corresponding to the original word string designated by the user. The new word registration processing unit 13b performs processing for registering the original word string designated by the user and the corresponding translated word string in the new word dictionary 15.

The cursor control processor 13c displays "right arrow".
The cursor movement is controlled according to the depression of the key 11d or the "left arrow" key 11e. In this case, in the first embodiment, the cursor is moved left and right in word units, and in the second embodiment, the cursor is moved left and right in word units or character units.

The translation dictionary 14 stores information necessary for translation processing such as a prepared original word string and a corresponding translated word string. The new word dictionary 15 is one of translation dictionaries used as a user dictionary, and stores information necessary for translation processing such as an original word string designated by the user and a corresponding translated word string.

The storage unit 16 is a memory for storing various kinds of information necessary for the processing of this apparatus, and has an original sentence buffer 16a, an original word string buffer 16b, and a translated word string buffer 16c here.

The original sentence buffer 16a stores original sentence data (here, English sentence) composed of a plurality of words. The original word string buffer 16b stores an original word string (here, English words) designated by the user when registering a new word. Translation string buffer 16c
Stores the translated word string (here, Japanese) specified by the user when registering a new word.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the first embodiment. When the English-Japanese dictionary function or the new word registration function is designated by pressing the "English-Japanese dictionary" key 11a or the "new word registration" key 11b provided in the input unit 11 (steps A11, A12), "screen acquisition"
When the acquisition of the original word string from the screen is designated by pressing the key 11c (Yes in step A13), the control unit 13 controls the movement of the cursor through the cursor control processing unit 13c and selects the original word string to be processed. It is acquired from the screen (steps A14 and A15).

If it is not acquired from the screen (No in step A13), the control unit 13 acquires the character string input through the input unit 11 as the original word string to be processed (step A16).

The original word string thus obtained is stored in the original word string buffer 16b of the storage unit 16. And
If it is an English-Japanese dictionary function (Yes in step A17), the control unit 13 converts the translated word string corresponding to the original word string into the translation dictionary 14
Is searched (step A18), and the search result is displayed on the display unit 12 (step A19).

If it is a new word registration function (step A)
No. 17), the control unit 13 acquires the translated word string by key input, stores it in the translated word string buffer 16c (step A20), and then, together with the original word string, the new word dictionary 15
(Step A21).

Here, in the first embodiment, when the original word string is acquired from the screen (Yes in step A13).
s), the control unit 13 is characterized by acquiring the start point and the end point of the original word string to be processed by moving the cursor in word units (steps A14 and A15).

FIG. 3 shows the process of acquiring the starting point and the ending point of the original word string at this time. First, the current cursor position is set as the starting point of the original word string (step B11). In this state, when the "right arrow" key 11d is pressed (Yes in step B12)
s), the control unit 13 searches for the delimiter closest to the right and sets it as the current position (step B13). Also,
If the "left arrow" key 11e is pressed (step B14
Yes), the control unit 13 searches for the delimiter closest to the left and sets it as the current position (step B15).

The term "delimiter" refers to a character such as a space or tab that indicates a word delimiter. Also, consecutive delimiters such as spaces and tabs are treated as one character.
Here, when the "select / execute" key is pressed (Yes in step B16), the control unit 13 sets the current position to the left by 1 if the immediately preceding key is the "right arrow" key 11d (Yes in step B17). Only the characters are returned (step B18), and this is set as the end point of the original word string (step B20). Also,
If the immediately preceding key is the "right arrow" key 11d (step B17)
No.), the control unit 13 returns the current position to the left by one character (step B19), and sets it as the end point of the original word string (step B20).

Next, a specific example will be described. Now, "I
have a book. When the word "book" therein is searched for in the dictionary or registered as a new word, the following operation is performed.

(1) Press the "English-Japanese dictionary" key 11a or the "new word registration" key 11b (step A1 in FIG. 2).
2). (2) "Screen acquisition" to acquire the original language string from the screen
The key 11c is pressed (step A13 in FIG. 2).

(3) Here, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example, when the "right arrow" key 11d is pressed with the cursor at the position of "h" of "have",
As shown in (b), the cursor moves to the position of the next word "a".

If the "left arrow" key 11e is pressed while the cursor is at the "h" position of "have", the cursor moves to the position of the previous word "I".

The movement control of the cursor in units of words is performed through the cursor control processing unit 13c. (4) Then, when the cursor is in the state of (3), that is, in the position of “a” shown in FIG. 4B, “boo
When designating "k" as the processing target, the "right arrow" key 11d is pressed once. As a result, the cursor moves to "b
Move to “b” of “ook”.

When the "select / execute" key is pressed, "b" of "book" is acquired as the starting point (step A14 in FIG. 2). In this case, FIG.
As shown in (c), "book" is highlighted so that the user is notified that "b" of "book" is the starting point.

(5) "Select / execute" in the above condition (4)
When the key is pressed again, “k” of “book” is acquired as the end point (step A15 in FIG. 2). As a result, the word "book" is obtained as a dictionary search or new word registration processing target.

Incidentally, for example, "I have a boot
k. Move the cursor to the position of "h" in "
After pressing the "Execute" key, press the "Left arrow" key 11e to 2
If you press the "Select / Execute" key again after pressing it once, "h
A compound word “have a book” is acquired as an original word string to be processed, with “h” of “ave” as a starting point and “k” of “book” as an ending point. in this case,
When the “left arrow” key 11e is pressed twice, “hav
e a book ”is highlighted.

As described above, when the original word string for dictionary search or new word registration is specified on the screen, by moving the cursor in word units, the word specifying operation is facilitated, and particularly in the case of specifying a complex word. , It is possible to prevent a mistake in the designation of the start point and the end point of the character string and reduce the burden on the user.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, when the original word string is specified by the English-Japanese dictionary function or the new word registration function, the cursor is moved in the unit specified by the user, and the original word string specified by the cursor is acquired as the processing target. Characterize.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing operation in the second embodiment. "English-Japanese dictionary" key 11a or "new word registration" key 11 provided in the input unit 11
When the English-Japanese dictionary function or the new word registration function is specified by pressing b (steps C11 and C12),
When the acquisition of the original word string from the screen is designated by pressing the "screen acquisition" key 11c (Y in step C12).
es), the control unit 13 controls the movement of the cursor through the cursor control processing unit 13c, and acquires the original word string to be processed from the screen (steps C15 to C22).

If it is not acquired from the screen (No in step C13), the control unit 13 acquires the character string input through the input unit 11 as the original word string to be processed (step C14).

The original word string thus obtained is stored in the original word string buffer 16b of the storage unit 16. And
With the English-Japanese dictionary function, the translated word string corresponding to the original word string is searched from the translation dictionary 14, and the search result is displayed on the display unit 12. Further, in the case of the new word registration function, the original word string and the translated word string (obtained by key input) are registered in the new word dictionary 15.

Here, when the original language string is acquired from the screen (Yes in step C13), when the "function" key 11f and the "right arrow" key 11d or the "left arrow" key 11e are pressed (step C15). Ye
s), the control unit 13 determines that the movement in character units has been instructed, and as shown in FIG. 6, moves the cursor to the right or left in character units (step C16).

On the other hand, when only the "right arrow" key 11d or the "left arrow" key 11e is pressed (step C17).
Yes), the control unit 13 determines that the movement in units of words is instructed, and moves the cursor in units of words to the right or left (step C18).

In this way, when the "select / execute" key is pressed after moving the cursor character by character or word by word (Yes in step C19), the control unit 13 selects the original word string to be processed. Get the starting point (Step C2)
0 No, C21). Then, the control unit 13 acquires the end point of the original word string at the timing when the "select / execute" key is pressed next (Yes in step C19) (step C22).

In this way, when the original word string to be searched for a dictionary or to register a new word is specified on the screen, the operability is improved by optionally moving the cursor in character units or word units. be able to.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is characterized in that when a new word registration function is used to specify a source word string and a translated word string as a pair, if the translated word string is not specified, the word is automatically acquired as the same word as the original word string.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the processing operation in the third embodiment. When the new word registration function is specified by pressing the "new word registration" key 11b provided in the input unit 11 (steps D11 and D12),
When the acquisition of the original language string is specified on the screen by pressing the "screen acquisition" key 11c (Y in step D13).
es), the control unit 13 controls the movement of the cursor through the cursor control processing unit 13c and acquires the original word string to be processed from the screen (steps D14 and D15).

If it is not acquired from the screen (No in step D16), the control unit 13 acquires the character string input through the input unit 11 as the original word string to be processed (step D17).

The original word string thus obtained is stored in the original word string buffer 16b of the storage unit 16. At this time, a new word registration screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. This new word registration screen is provided with an original word input area and a translated word input area, and the original word string stored in the original word string buffer 16b is displayed in the original word input area.

Here, the new word registration function requires a translated word string for the original word string. Usually, a translated word string is input through the input unit 11 (step D17). The input translated word string is stored in the translated word string buffer 16c and is displayed in the translated word input area of the new word registration screen. If the "Select / Execute" key is pressed in this state,
These two pieces of information are read from the original word string buffer 16b and the translated word string buffer 16c and registered in the new word dictionary 15 (step D20).

Therefore, there is no designation of the translated word string, and "selection /
When the "execute" key is pressed, that is, when the "select / execute" key is pressed without entering any characters in the translated word input area of the new word registration screen (step D18).
Yes), the control unit 13 determines that they are the same word, copies the character string currently stored in the original word string buffer 16b to the translated word string buffer 16c (step D19), and performs new word registration processing based on both information. (Step D2
0).

Thus, for example, when registering a new word for the translated word string "TOKYO" for the original word string "TOKYO", "TOK" is entered on the screen or by key input.
Even after specifying "YO" as the original word string and not specifying (key input) "TOKYO" as the translated word string for the original word string, information for automatically translating from "TOKYO" to "TOKYO" is stored in the new word dictionary 15. It will be registered.

[0059]

【The invention's effect】

(1) As described above, according to the present invention, when the original word string data to be processed in the dictionary search or the new word registration is acquired from the original text data display screen, by moving the cursor in word units, It is possible to simplify the designation operation, prevent the mistake of the designation of the start point and the end point of the character string, especially when designating a complex word, and reduce the burden on the user.

(2) According to the present invention, in the case of acquiring the original word string data to be processed in the dictionary search or the new word registration from the display screen of the original text data, the cursor is arbitrarily selected in word units or character units. The operability can be improved by moving to.

(3) Further, according to the present invention, after the original word string data to be processed for new word registration is specified, if the translated word string data is not specified for the original word string data, the same character string as the original word string data is specified. Since it is acquired as the translation word string data, when the original word string and the translation word string to be processed for new word registration are the same character string, the operation of specifying both words can be simplified and the burden on the user can be reduced. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a machine translation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an original language string acquisition process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a movement of a cursor when a source word string is designated in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining movement of a cursor when a source word string is designated in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a new word registration screen in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Input part, 12 ... Display part, 13 ... Control part, 13a ... Dictionary search processing part, 13b ... New word registration processing part, 13c ... Cursor control processing part, 14 ... Translation dictionary, 15 ... New word dictionary, 16 ... Storage part , 16a ... Original sentence buffer, 16b ... Original word string buffer, 16c ... Translated word string buffer.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hideki Nagasaki, 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Inside the Ome Plant of Toshiba Corporation (72) Inventor Chizuru Sato 2--9, Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Stock Association Inside the Toshiba Ome Factory (72) Inventor Izumi Sakata 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Stock Company Inside Toshiba Ome Factory (72) Keiko Tajima 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Stock Company Toshiba In the Ome Factory (72) Masanori Gunji 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Inside the Ome Factory, Toshiba Corporation (72) Inventor Masakazu Saito 1385 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Inside Toshiba Software Engineering Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A display means for displaying original text data, an instruction means for instructing a cursor movement, and an instruction for obtaining original word string data to be processed for dictionary search or new word registration from the original text data. Cursor movement control means for moving the cursor in word units according to a movement instruction by the means, and original word string data to be processed from the original text data on the basis of the position of the cursor movement-controlled by the cursor movement control means A machine translation apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires 2. A display means for displaying the original text data, an instruction means for instructing movement of the cursor in word units or character units, and an original word string subject to dictionary search or new word registration from the original text data. When acquiring the data, it is determined whether the movement instruction by the instruction means is in word units or character units, and the cursor movement control means for moving the cursor in word units or character units according to the instruction content, and the cursor movement control. A machine translation apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires source word string data to be processed from the source text data based on the position of the cursor controlled to move by the unit. 3. The original word specifying means for specifying the original word string data to be processed for new word registration, the translated word specifying means for specifying the translated word string data to be processed for new word registration, and the original word string data by the original word specifying means. When specified, when the translated word string data is not specified by the translated word specifying means, the machine further comprises an acquisition means for acquiring the same character string as the original word string data as the translated word string data. Translation device. 4. After displaying the original text data, when acquiring the original word string data to be processed for dictionary search or new word registration from the original text data, the cursor is moved in word units according to a cursor movement instruction, and the cursor at that time is moved. A method for acquiring a processing target word, wherein original word string data to be processed is acquired from the original text data based on a position. 5. After displaying the original text data, when acquiring the original word string data to be processed for dictionary search or new word registration from within the original text data, the movement of the cursor is instructed in word units or character units. If it is a move instruction, move the cursor in word units, if it is a character move instruction, move the cursor in character units, and based on the cursor position at that time, the original word to be processed from the original text data A method for acquiring a processing target word, characterized in that column data is acquired. 6. When the original word string data to be processed for new word registration is specified, it is judged whether or not the translated word string data is specified for the original word string data, and if the original word string data is not specified, A process target word acquiring method, wherein the same character string as the original word string data is acquired as the translated word string data.