Bridge Language Translation via Dictionary Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data processing systems face challenges in translating source language text into a target language when no direct translations are available, as existing dictionary services lack adequate coverage for all language pairs.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a bridge language to facilitate translations by using dictionary and phrase table mappings from the source language to a bridge language and then from the bridge language to the target language, selecting preferred translations based on part-of-speech matching and scoring mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dictionary service uses only direct translations from source language to target language, then translation accuracy is maintained for available language pairs, but translation coverage is limited when no direct translations are available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetranslation coverageVSAvoidtranslation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a bridge language as an intermediary to enable translations between source and target languages when no direct translation is available. The system translates from source language to bridge language, then from bridge language to target language, thereby expanding translation coverage while maintaining reliability through multiple validation mechanisms including part-of-speech matching and confidence scoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses bridge language translations, then translation coverage is expanded to unavailable language pairs, but system complexity increases due to multiple translation steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetranslation coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the translation process into distinct components: source language to bridge language translation, bridge language to target language translation, part-of-speech tagging, and confidence scoring. This segmentation allows each component to be independently optimized and managed, reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-step translation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge language serves as a universal intermediary that can facilitate translations between any language pair for which the bridge language has coverage. This multi-functional approach allows a single bridge language to support multiple source and target languages, reducing system complexity compared to maintaining separate translation systems for each language pair

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system obtains translations from multiple sources (dictionary and phrase table), then translation coverage and options are increased, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetranslation optionsVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent obtains translations from multiple sources (dictionary and phrase table) but applies selective filtering based on part-of-speech matching and confidence scoring. Not all candidate translations are processed equally - only those that match the part-of-speech criteria and exceed confidence thresholds are considered, reducing unnecessary processing while maintaining comprehensive coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If the system performs multiple validation checks (part-of-speech matching, confidence scoring), then translation reliability is improved, but processing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetranslation accuracyVSAvoidvalidation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs part-of-speech tagging and validation checks in advance before final translation selection. By pre-tagging parts of speech for source language text, bridge language translations, and candidate target language translations, the system establishes validation criteria beforehand, making the actual translation selection process more efficient despite the additional validation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9465797B2Translating text using a bridge language

Publication Date: 2016.10.11 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for translating text using a bridge language. One of the methods includes receiving original text in a source language and data identifying a target language; obtaining bridge language translations for the original text into a bridge language, wherein the bridge language translations comprise one or more dictionary translations; for each bridge language translation, obtaining one or more candidate translations for the bridge language translation into the target language, wherein the candidate translations comprise one or more dictionary translations; determining that a candidate translation is a dictionary translation obtained for a particular bridge language translation and that the particular bridge language translation is a dictionary translation obtained for the original text; determining that the candidate translation is obtained for two or more distinct bridge language translations; and selecting the candidate translation as a preferred translation of the original text.