Cross-Language Search Query Translation and Result Presentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional search systems fail to effectively facilitate cross-language information retrieval, limiting users' ability to access and utilize non-English content and knowledge.
Innovation Solution
A cross-language information retrieval system that translates queries from a source language into a target language, allows users to modify translations, and presents search results in both languages, enabling users to refine searches and access multilingual resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional search systems are used for cross-language information retrieval, then users can access content in their native language, but users cannot effectively access and utilize non-English content and knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces machine translation as an intermediary component that translates user queries from English to target languages and translates search results from target languages back to English. This mediator enables cross-language information retrieval without requiring users to know foreign languages, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining language accessibility and accessing non-English content.
2Adaptability or versatility
If machine translation is used to translate queries and results, then users can access content in multiple languages, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into an integrated search system: the search engine, machine translation service, and result presentation are merged into a unified workflow. The system automatically translates queries, performs searches in target languages, and translates results back to English without requiring separate manual translation steps, thereby managing complexity while maintaining multilingual capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service translation where the machine translation component automatically translates user queries and search results without human intervention. The translation service is invoked seamlessly within the search workflow, allowing the system to handle multilingual content autonomously and reducing the operational complexity of managing manual translation processes.
3Productivity
If automatic translation is performed without user input, then processing speed is maintained, but translation accuracy and user control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where users can review and modify automatically translated queries before final execution. The system presents the machine-translated query to the user, allowing corrections or adjustments, and then uses this refined query for the actual search. This feedback loop improves translation accuracy while maintaining reasonable processing speed by only requiring user intervention when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for cross-language information retrieval. A source query in a source language is received. The source query is translated into a target query in a target language. One or more target-language resources that satisfy the target query are identified. The identified resources are translated into the source language. Search results corresponding to the translated resources are presented.


