Abstract:
An approach is disclosed for providing a managed language translation service. A request, from a source station, is received, at a switch, to establish a voice call with a destination station. A determination is made whether the request includes an indicator specifying invocation of a translation service managed by a service provider. If the request includes the indicator, the voice call is directed to a gateway that transmits the voice call over a data network to a translation application. The translation application translates, in real-time, speech associated with the voice call from a first language to a second language. The translated speech is transmitted to the destination station.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    Traditionally, obtaining language translation services has required completing various time consuming logistical activities. For example, such activities include scheduling of a human interpreter to be involved with a discussion among multiple participants. This necessitates the coordination of numerous individuals&#39; schedules, which may require significant advance planning. The arduous task of scheduling is particularly onerous when the participants are in different time zones, thereby limiting scheduling freedom. Moreover, accessibility to translation services is significantly hindered, as a typical consumer would need to conduct extensive research to determine a proper translation service. Also, the “overhead” in setting up the service may not warrant the effort, if the session is expected to be relatively short in duration. Furthermore, conventional approaches cannot readily accommodate last minute or spontaneous translation needs, in large part because this overhead presents an impasse. 
         [0002]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved approach for providing language translation services. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Various exemplary embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a translation service platform capable of providing a managed language translation service, according to various exemplary embodiments; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a dialing plan for providing real-time language translation, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are flowcharts of a process for providing real-time language translation, according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of message formats used in the real-time language translation process of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a billing process for a real-time language translation service, according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a computer system that can be used to implement various exemplary embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    An apparatus, method, and software for providing real-time language translation are described. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various exemplary embodiments. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the various exemplary embodiments may be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the exemplary embodiments. 
         [0011]    Although the various embodiments are described with respect to Internet Protocol (IP)-based networks and applications, it is contemplated that these embodiments have applicability to other equivalent networks and applications. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a translation service platform capable of providing a managed language translation service, according to various exemplary embodiments. For the purposes of illustration, a communication system  100  includes a translation service platform  101  that provides a managed service for real-time translation. The platform  101 , in an exemplary embodiment, utilizes one or more translation applications  103 , which can be executed by a grid (or cluster) of computers. By way of example, the translation application can be an automated interactive language translator, without the need for interpreters, dictionaries, or memorization pre-recorded phrases—such application includes COMPADRE INTERACT™ by SPEECHGEAR™. The application receives speech in one language and outputs speech in a designated language in a real-time voice-to-voice translation of continuous free speech. In this example, the translation applications  103  can be implemented to encompass several different languages with varying combination of source and target languages (e.g., from English-to-Spanish, English-to-French, Spanish-to-English, Spanish-to-French, etc.). 
         [0013]    A switch  105  within the translation service platform  101  provides a mapping of voice calls to respective sessions associated with the translation performed by the translation applications  103 . The switch  105  also performs load balancing of the voice traffic to ensure real-time performance of the translation service. 
         [0014]    The translation service platform  101  utilizes, in one embodiment, an Internet Protocol (IP) virtual private network (VPN) gateway (GW)  107  for securely communicating over a data network  109 . Alternatively, the translation service platform  101  can communicate over a circuit switched network  111 , e.g., a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a cellular network, using an IP telephony gateway  113 . 
         [0015]    As part of the managed service, a service provider maintains the translation service platform  101  and employs a billing system  115  to invoice its subscribers. The billing system  115  operates in conjunction with the translation applications  103  to accurately track usage of the service and to generate invoices based on the usage. The billing system  115  enables payment on demand or pre-paid. The billing process is more fully described in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0016]    As shown, the translation service platform  101  can establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection with IP VPN GW  117 . The IP VPN gateways  107 ,  117  create a secure tunnel through the data network  109  to enable sharing of the resources of the data network  109  to exchange voice traffic. The VPN can operate according to a best-effort or a negotiated Service Level Agreement (SLA). Although  FIG. 1  shows a point-to-point connection, the VPN may employ other topologies. The IP VPN GW  117  serves IP private branch exchanges (PBXs)  119 ,  121 . The IP PBX  119  connects to one or more voice stations  123  to provide telephony features and services. As a private branch exchange, the IP PBX  119  provides a telephony switching system within an organization (business or enterprise). The IP PBX  119  switches calls between Voice over IP (VoIP) voice stations (of which only one, voice station  123 , is shown) on local lines and permits such stations to share external phone lines. In addition, the IP PBX  119  can switch calls between a VoIP voice station and a traditional POTS voice station, or between two POTS voice stations. 
         [0017]    The IP PBX  121  provides telephony features to voice station(s)  125 , such as call transfer, call forwarding, call pick-up, abbreviated dialing, etc. Under this scenario, the voice stations  123 ,  125  are VoIP stations, which can be actual physical devices or virtual (“soft”) interface within a computing device. The computing devices can include desktop personal computers, workstations, web appliances, personal digital assistants (PDAs), palm computers, etc. 
         [0018]    In addition, the communication system  100  permits users (or subscribers) with POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) voice stations  127  to partake in the real-time language translation service. Under the arrangement of  FIG. 1 , the voice stations  123 ,  125 , and  127  can permit the users to communicate in different languages without regard to scheduling issues, as the translation service platform  101  does not rely on a human interpreter. That is, no human intervention is required to sustain the translation service. 
         [0019]    According to one embodiment, the translation service is easily invoked based on the dialing plan, as next explained. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of a dialing plan for providing real-time language translation, according to an exemplary embodiment. A table  200  of translation prefixes is employed to specify that real-time translation service is requested. These prefixes can uniquely identify the particular languages involved in the translation. For instance, the dialing prefix of “1xx” conveys that the user seeks to have speech translated from English to Spanish. It is noted that the prefixes serve as indicators to notify the network (or application or protocol) that special treatment of the voice call is requested (i.e., invoke language translation service). These indicators need to be maintained, in substance, to identify the particular languages involved. Accordingly, the indicators can change form depending on the system and application that is processing the information. For example, at some point in the call flow, the prefix may need to be converted to a translation tag  203  to indicate which of the translation applications  103  is to handle the particular voice call. 
         [0021]    The operation of the translation service platform  101  is explained below. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are flowcharts of a process for providing real-time language translation, according to an exemplary embodiment. In step  301 , a caller (or calling party), who is an English speaker uses the voice station  123  (source station), for example, to place a voice call to a called party on the voice station  127  (destination station). For the purposes of explanation, the called party is a Spanish speaker. Thus, the dialed digits that is input by the caller includes a translation prefix for a given language—e.g., “1xx” corresponding to English-to-Spanish. Under this scenario, the voice station  123 , as a source station, is served by an IP private branch exchange (PBX)  119 , which examines the dialed digits for a translation prefix and routes the call, per step  303 , to the IP VPN gateway  117  upon detecting the existence of the prefix (e.g., “1xx”). 
         [0023]    In step  305 , the IP VPN gateway  117  encapsulates the voice packet, the translation prefix, and the destination number in an encrypted packet. The IP VPN gateway  117  then prepends, as in step  307 , the translation service IP address to the encrypted packet. Next, the encrypted packet is then sent over a data network  109  to the translation service platform  101 , as in step  309 . A router (not shown in the system of  FIG. 1 ), for instance, can receive the packet, and forward to the IP VPN gateway  107  of the translation service platform  101 . 
         [0024]    Next, the IP VPN gateway  107  decrypts the packet, the translation prefix and destination number, per step  311 . The decrypted voice packet is part of a voice stream, which is assigned a session stream in the load balancing switch  105  (step  313 ). The session stream is assigned to a computer within the grid (i.e., transaction application) for translation based on the translation tag, per step  315 . 
         [0025]    In step  317 , the voice stream is translated by the appropriate translation application  103 , and directed back to the load balancing switch  105  (per step  319 ). At this juncture, the destination number is translated to an IP address, as in step  321 . In step  323 , the voice stream is packetized and duplicated. One duplicate stream is sent to the originating voice station  123  using the network  109 , so the caller (originator) can hear the translation, per step  325 . In step  327 , the second stream is sent to the destination voice station  127 . It is noted that the duplicate stream forwarded to the originating voice station  123  is merely optional. 
         [0026]    According to one embodiment, the communication between the originating voice station  123  and the destination voice station  127  is in a half duplex mode—i.e., only one party speaks at a time, in a push to talk manner to prevent overlap of the translation streams. 
         [0027]    Additionally, it is contemplated that the translation service platform  101  can support text-to-speech and speech-to-text conversions. Such functions can be integrated with the translation application  103 , for example. Alternatively, separate devices or modules (e.g., Digital Signal Processors) can be utilized to provide text-to-speech and speech-to-text conversions, and can reside in various components within the system  100 . For example, text-to-speech and speech-to-text processors can be deployed in the IP telephony gateway  113  or the switch  105 . These capabilities permit a user who is confined to text-based commmunications, e.g., computing system (not shown), such as a desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc., to obtain the translation service. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of message formats used in the real-time language translation process of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , according to an exemplary embodiment. Message  401  shows an example of an encapsulated packet that is generated by the IP VPN gateway  117 . The message  401  includes a translation prefix field  401   a,  a destination number  401   b,  and one or more voice packets associated with the voice call. 
         [0029]    As shown, a translated voice packet  403  undergoes duplication after the translation process. Specifically, a message  405  that is destined for the originating voice station  123  includes a network address field  407  for the IP address of the calling voice station  123  and the translated voice packet  403 . A message  409  containing the duplicate translated voice packet  403  includes a network address field  411  to specify the IP address of the called voice station  127 . 
         [0030]    Another aspect of the managed translation service pertains to the capability to accurately and timely bill for the service, as next described. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a billing process for a real-time language translation service, according to an exemplary embodiment. In step  501 , the grid computers that loaded with the translation applications  103  can also keep track of how many calls and the duration of the calls (i.e., call records) translated on a per customer basis, which is reported to a consolidation application (not shown) on the grid. These call records, in form of consolidated information, are sent to the billing system  115 , as in step  503 . Next, in step  505 , the billing system  115  generates billing information. 
         [0032]    As mentioned, a variety of payment methods can be used, including on-demand or pre-paid. In an alternative embodiment, a subscription service can be implemented, whereby the subscribers pay a fixed and/or variable monthly charge for the managed translation service. 
         [0033]    The above described processes relating to managed language translation services can be implemented via software, hardware (e.g., general processor, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc.), firmware or a combination thereof. Such exemplary hardware for performing the described functions is detailed below. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates a computer system  600  upon which an exemplary embodiment can be implemented. For example, the processes described herein can be implemented using the computer system  600 . The computer system  600  includes a bus  601  or other communication mechanism for communicating information and a processor  603  coupled to the bus  601  for processing information. The computer system  600  also includes main memory  605 , such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus  601  for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor  603 . Main memory  605  can also be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the processor  603 . The computer system  600  may further include a read only memory (ROM)  607  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  601  for storing static information and instructions for the processor  603 . A storage device  609 , such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is coupled to the bus  601  for persistently storing information and instructions. 
         [0035]    The computer system  600  may be coupled via the bus  601  to a display  611 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display, active matrix display, or plasma display, for displaying information to a computer user. An input device  613 , such as a keyboard including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus  601  for communicating information and command selections to the processor  603 . Another type of user input device is a cursor control  615 , such as a mouse, a trackball, haptic devices, eye tracking systems, or cursor direction keys, for communicating direction information and command selections to the processor  603  and for controlling cursor movement on the display  611 . 
         [0036]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the processes described herein are performed by the computer system  600 , in response to the processor  603  executing an arrangement of instructions contained in main memory  605 . Such instructions can be read into main memory  605  from another computer-readable medium, such as the storage device  609 . Execution of the arrangement of instructions contained in main memory  605  causes the processor  603  to perform the process steps described herein. One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the instructions contained in main memory  605 . In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions to implement the exemplary embodiment. Thus, exemplary embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. 
         [0037]    The computer system  600  also includes a communication interface  617  coupled to bus  601 . The communication interface  617  provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link  619  connected to a local network  621 . For example, the communication interface  617  may be a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or modem, an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card, a cable modem, a telephone modem, or any other communication interface to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of communication line. As another example, communication interface  617  may be a local area network (LAN) card (e.g. for Ethernet™ or an Asynchronous Transfer Model (ATM) network) to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links can also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface  617  sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. Further, the communication interface  617  can include peripheral interface devices, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) interface, etc. Although a single communication interface  617  is depicted in  FIG. 6 , multiple communication interfaces can also be employed. 
         [0038]    The network link  619  typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, the network link  619  may provide a connection through local network  621  to a host computer  623 , which has connectivity to a network  625  (e.g. a wide area network (WAN) or the global packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the “Internet”) or to data equipment operated by a service provider. The local network  621  and the network  625  both use electrical, electromagnetic, or optical signals to convey information and instructions. The signals through the various networks and the signals on the network link  619  and through the communication interface  617 , which communicate digital data with the computer system  600 , are exemplary forms of carrier waves bearing the information and instructions. 
         [0039]    The computer system  600  can send messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), the network link  619 , and the communication interface  617 . In the Internet example, a server (not shown) might transmit requested code belonging to an application program for implementing an exemplary embodiment through the network  625 , the local network  621  and the communication interface  617 . The processor  603  may execute the transmitted code while being received and/or store the code in the storage device  609 , or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, the computer system  600  may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave. 
         [0040]    The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to the processor  603  for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as the storage device  609 . Volatile media include dynamic memory, such as main memory  605 . Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus  601 . Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic, optical, or electromagnetic waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. 
         [0041]    Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in providing instructions to a processor for execution. For example, the instructions for carrying out at least part of the various exemplary embodiments may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. In such a scenario, the remote computer loads the instructions into main memory and sends the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem of a local computer system receives the data on the telephone line and uses an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal and transmit the infrared signal to a portable computing device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a laptop. An infrared detector on the portable computing device receives the information and instructions borne by the infrared signal and places the data on a bus. The bus conveys the data to main memory, from which a processor retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory can optionally be stored on storage device either before or after execution by processor. 
         [0042]    In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that flow. The specification and the drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.