METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR IMPLEMENTING AN INDEX-BASED SEARCH ALGORITHM FOR USE WITH A TRANSLATION PROGRAM

摘要

Improved methods, apparatus and computer program products implementing an index-based search algorithm for use with a translation program are disclosed herein. In the method, a group of words (such as menu items) are selected for translation from one language to another. Then, an index for use in conducting search-and-match operations during language translation operations is constructed for the group of words. In constructing an index, the frequency of appearance of characters used in the words to be translated is calculated. Then, coverage calculations are made based on various selections of key characters. Next, key characters are chosen based on the coverage calculations. Then, a key character index is constructed using the key characters. In one embodiment, the key character index comprises for each word an identification of which key characters appear in the word, and where the key characters appear in the word. After the key character index is constructed, words not containing key characters are identified in a specific set. The key character index and specific set index are then used during search and match language translation operations.