Funded under the EU ICT Policy Support Programme
Automated Solutions for Patent Translation
John Tinsley
Project Coordinator @ PLuTOWIPO Symposium of IP Authorities
Geneva, September 2011
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
•The need for patent translation
•PLuTO translation solutions
•Machine translation for patents
•Looking forward
Presentation Overview
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Patent Translation
NeedLegal requirements for filing, e.g. London Agreement
Source: EPO
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Patent Translation
NeedPrior-art searching; relevant documents are increasingly foreign language
Source: Thomson Reuters
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Patent Translation
Problems
•Professional translation is expensive•US$0.50 per word for Asian languages•US$0.08—0.20 for European languages•Translations costs per EU patent : approx. €680 (source: EPO)
•Machine Translation quality is often insufficient•Options are limited
65% of potential users would be willing to pay for an adequate MT solution
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
PLuTO Translation Solutions
Mission
“The PLUTO translation service aims to provide an automated patent translation capability across multiple patent search systems leveraging integration of advanced Machine Translation and Translation Memory technology with personalised, tailored vocabulary and terminology management for patent professionals in order to increase productivity and reduce costs.”
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Introduction to PLuTO
PLuTO: Patent Language Translations Online
• EU supported project designed to put the wheels in motion for a standalone commercial solution for patent translation
• Four partner consortium• Centre for Next Generation Localisation• ESTeam • Cross Language• Dutch Patent Information User Group (WON)
We do patent translation, and only patent translationWe do patent translation, and only patent translation
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Introduction to PLuTO
• Translation solutions with a set of features designed with the patent professional in mind• Specific needs identified and met
• Tools developed over 18 months in close collaboration with end users• WON, the Dutch Patent Information User Group• EPO• Advisory board of IP experts
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
PLuTO Service Features
Machine Translation at the core BUT the real benefits manifest themselves in how the service is delivered
Web Browser Translation Plugin
Patent translation “on-the-fly” no matter where you search
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The PLuTO interface opens up a world of features to the user…
Source text from Espacenet Translated text
Account management
More features
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …uses different search tools to ensure comprehensive coverage
• Plugin supports multiple tools e.g. EPO, WIPO, PatBase, USPTO
Language identification
Select text
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …wants to fix mistakes in the translation
• Pluto provides a simple post-editing interface. All corrections are logged in the user’s account and reused in future translations
Segment Highlighting Click-and-fix
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …uses specific terminology
• Pluto terminology management allows for uploading of translation memories, terminology banks, and vocabulary
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …wants to save/share the translation
• Translation history is stored in the user’s account. Translations can also be downloaded in multiple formats
Takes you back to the original text in the search tool
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …wants to save/share the translation
• Translation history is stored in the user’s account. Translations can also be downloaded in multiple formats
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …has text from elsewhere to be translated
• Pluto has a direct translation interface for copy-and-paste translation, and also a document upload facility
Upload your own file
Copy/Paste or type text in the box
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …has text from elsewhere to be translated
• Pluto has a direct translation interface for copy-and-paste translation, and also a document upload facility
Text added
Select domain
Chose language and translate
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
The Patent Specialist…• …has text from elsewhere to be translated
• Pluto has a direct translation interface for copy-and-paste translation, and also a document upload facility
Your translation
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Patent Translation is hard
Different sections of patentdocuments use different language
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Patent Translation is hard
• Long unwieldy sentences
• Complex formulae and text
L is an organic group selected from -CH2-(OCH2CH2)n-, -CO-NR'-, with R'=H or C1-C4 alkyl group; n=0-8; Y=F, CF3 …
maximum stress of 1.2 to 3.5 N/mm<2> and a maximum elongation of 700 to 1,300% at 0[deg.] C.
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
PLuTO Technology (1)
• Statistical Machine Translation• Trained on patent data• Adapted to specific domains and IPC codes• Specific processing for patent language
• Translation Memories• Manually-crafted high-quality TMs• Integrated with MT for optimal performance
• Quality Control• MT quality pre-approved • Independent evaluators and users constantly in the loop
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
PLuTO Technology (2)
• Languages• English <-> French, German, Portuguese, Japanese• In the pipeline: Chinese, Russian, Korean, Spanish
• Secure translations• OpenID accounts• SSL Secure Server
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
On-going Developments
Engage more users
Funded under the EU ICT Policy SupportProgramme
Thank you
Subscribe to updates and for early access to software at:http://www.pluto-patenttranslation.eu/
Email: [email protected]
Come visit usEPO Patent Information Conference 2001
October 18-20 Kilkenny, Ireland
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