Abstract: A method and apparatus converts input data such as short notes into a global text realization to provide semantically-coherent grammatical text. In various exemplary embodiments, an individual inputs short notes into a computer system, the computer system associates local text realizations with the short notes. Subsequently, the user may select the appropriate local text realizations, which may be converted to semantic representations and to semantically coherent grammatical text or a global text realization.

Abstract: A machine translation method includes receiving source text in a first language and retrieving text fragments in a target language from a library of bi-fragments to generate a target hypothesis. Each bi-fragment includes a text fragment from the first language and a corresponding text fragment from the second language. Some of the bi-fragments are modeled as elastic bi-fragments where a gap between words is able to assume a variable size corresponding to a number of other words to occupy the gap. The target hypothesis is evaluated with a translation scoring function which scores the target hypothesis according to a plurality of feature functions, at least one of the feature functions comprising a gap size scoring feature which favors hypotheses with statistically more probable gap sizes over hypotheses with statically less probable gap sizes.

Abstract: A machine translation method for translating source text from a first language to target text in a second language includes receiving the source text in the first language and accessing a library of bi-fragments, each of the bi-fragments including a text fragment from the first language and a text fragment from the second language, at least some of the bi-fragments comprising non-contiguous bi-fragments in which at least one of the text fragment from the first language and the text fragment from the second language comprises a non-contiguous fragment.

Abstract: A system for document internal localization includes an optical input device for retrieving an observed region of a hardcopy document and a processing component which provides a location identifier for actionable observed regions by matching the retrieved region with a region of an electronically stored version of the hardcopy document. The hardcopy document and electronically stored version of the document include machine readable disambiguating information which has been added to actionable regions of the document which are indistinguishable from other actionable regions, based on their original markings, whereby a region is distinguishable from similar regions of the document. The disambiguating information is localized in regions of the document whose markings are not distinguishable without the disambiguating information.

Abstract: A writing advisor program (20) receives a proposed text in an author's second language (L2) and determines at least one candidate replacement word for a selected word based on a determined language model (p(c)) and a determined corruption model (p(r|c)). The determined language model reflects correct usage of the text in the second language, independent of the native or first language (L1) of the author, based on (L2) corpora. The determined corruption model is based on some a priori knowledge about probable corruption paths leading the author to realize some inadequate expression in the second language instead of the correct, intended expression. Different types of corruption paths may be used that include bidirectional translations, false-friends, synonyms, common semantic features, second language internal cognates, preposition alternatives, and first language inserts.

Abstract: A scanning machine (10) includes a scan surface (12) for receiving a page or pages to be scanned. A motion detector (20) monitors the copy surface to detect movement of the pages. In response to detecting a cessation of motion on the scan surface, the motion detector generates a trigger signal which causes a capture circuit (30) to capture an image of a page on the scan surface. If, during the capture of the page image, the motion detector detects motion of the page, the motion detector generates an abort signal which terminates capture of the image and empties a buffer memory (32). Once cessation of motion of the page is again detected, another trigger signal is issued and another attempt is made to capture an image. In this manner, scanning is started and stopped by natural, simple gestures without the operator pushing buttons.

Abstract: A bilingual authoring apparatus includes a user interface (20) for inputting partially translated text including a text portion in a source language and surrounding or adjacent text in a target language. A bilingual dictionary (34) associates words and phrases in the target language and words and phrases in a source language. A context sensitive translation tool (30, 32, 38) communicates with the user interface, receives the partially translated text, and provides at least one proposed translation in the target language of the text portion in the source language. The at least one proposed translation in the target language is derived from the bilingual dictionary based on contextual analysis of at least a portion of the partially translated text.

Abstract: A method for testing a language learner's ability to create semantically coherent grammatical text in a language, comprising generating text having at least one active region and inactive regions; displaying the text in a graphical user interface on a display unit, wherein at least one active region comprises a key word or phrase; identifying at least one active region in the graphical user interface; selecting at least one active region to display a menu of linguistic choices comprised of at least one grammatically correct linguistic choice and at least one grammatically incorrect linguistic choice; selecting one of the linguistic choices; and displaying an error message when at least one grammatically incorrect linguistic choice is selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus converts input data such as short notes into a global text realization to provide semantically-coherent grammatical text. In various exemplary embodiments, an individual inputs short notes into a computer system, the computer system associates local text realizations with the short notes. Subsequently, the user may select the appropriate local text realizations, which may be converted to semantic representations and to semantically coherent grammatical text or a global text realization.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system that utilize packed representations, i.e. structures, for performing a transfer of a collection of source representations, each of which corresponding to a meaning of a source expression in a source language, into a collection of target representations, each of which corresponding to a meaning of a target expression in a target language. A packed representation defines a corresponding collection of representations having certain subparts in common.

Abstract: An encoded sheet material includes a sheet of material having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material, the edge having indicia arranged thereon to form a code uniquely identifying the sheet of material. A system for managing an encoded sheet of material, includes a code reader operative in conjunction with the encoded sheet of material for reading the code, a sheet processing apparatus for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one of the first and second surfaces, and a processor in communication with the code reader device and the sheet processing apparatus for associating the information with the read code.

Abstract: Automatic actions can be obtained through a network using an area of marking medium with machine-readable markings that encode an action/medium identifier. The action/medium identifier identifies an action that can be produced through the network, and also identifies the area of marking medium. For example, it may include a globally unique or network-wide page identifier as well as an action identifier that can be used to produce an action described by data associated with a counterpart digital page. Or it can include both a page identifier and a location identifier, with the location identifier also identifying an action that relates to the page's digital counterpart. Or it can include a document identifier and an action identifier. Or it can be a globally unique or network-wide sticker identifier that can be used to identify a document, a peripheral device, or another object to which the sticker is attached, and that also produces an action through the network.

Abstract: Annotating activities are associated with portions of recordings by activity/recording data such as a table in which annotation identifiers are paired with timestamps. To obtain activity/recording data, an image input device, such as a manually positionable scanner or a fixed position camera, can produce an image signal set with information about a manual annotating activity and a recording/playback device can provide a recording portion signal, such as a timestamp, with information about a portion of a recording. The image signal set and the recording portion signal can then be used to automatically obtain the activity/recording data, associating information about the manual annotating activity with information identifying the portion of the recording. The information about the manual annotating activity can be an annotation identifier that includes information about the position or shape of the annotation.

Abstract: Annotating activities are associated with portions of recordings by activity/recording data such as a table in which annotation identifiers are paired with timestamps. To obtain activity/recording data, an image input device, such as a manually positionable scanner or a fixed position camera, can produce an image signal set with information about a manual annotating activity and a recording/playback device can provide a recording portion signal, such as a timestamp, with information about a portion of a recording. The image signal set and the recording portion signal can then be used to automatically obtain the activity/recording data, associating information about the manual annotating activity with information identifying the portion of the recording. The information about the manual annotating activity can be an annotation identifier that includes information about the position or shape of the annotation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system that utilize a collection of predefined core sentences in a source language, that may be initially accessed through a thematic hierarchy or through key words. New sentences may be recursively elaborated through transformations of a selected core sentence, that comprise substitution and expansion. In accordance With the present invention, the method and system automatically handle syntactic modifications of an interlingual structure, that are implied by a selected transformation. Each transformation establishes a valid new sentence in the source language. The method and system further generate a corresponding translation into any available target language.

Abstract: A method of creating an authenticatable sheet of material, includes measuring at least one physical property of the sheet of material; marking an edge of the sheet of material with indicia arranged to form a unique code identifying the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material includes a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material; and recording the measured physical property in a measure database indexed by the edge code. To verify the validity of a sheet of material, the edge code is read, the same physical property is measured and the measured value is compared with the previously stored value extracted from the measure database. If the two are substantially equal, the sheet of material is authentic.

Abstract: An encoded sheet material includes a sheet of material having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material, the edge having indicia arranged thereon to form a code uniquely identifying the sheet of material. A system for managing an encoded sheet of material, includes a code reader operative in conjunction with the encoded sheet of material for reading the code, a sheet processing apparatus for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one of the first and second surfaces, and a processor in communication with the code reader device and the sheet processing apparatus for associating the information with the read code.

Abstract: An encoded sheet material includes a sheet of material having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material, the edge having indicia arranged thereon to form a code uniquely identifying the sheet of material. A system for managing an encoded sheet of material, includes a code reader operative in conjunction with the encoded sheet of material for reading the code, a sheet processing apparatus for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one of the first and second surfaces, and a processor in communication with the code reader device and the sheet processing apparatus for associating the information with the read code.

Abstract: A method of creating an authenticatable sheet of material, includes measuring at least one physical property of the sheet of material; marking an edge of the sheet of material with indicia arranged to form a unique code identifying the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material includes a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material; and recording the measured physical property in a measure database indexed by the edge code. To verify the validity of a sheet of material, the edge code is read, the same physical property is measured and the measured value is compared with the previously stored value extracted from the measure database. If the two are substantially equal, the sheet of material is authentic.

Abstract: A method of creating an authenticatable sheet of material, includes measuring at least one physical property of the sheet of material; marking an edge of the sheet of material with indicia arranged to form a unique code identifying the sheet of material, wherein the sheet of material includes a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface and an edge extending between the first surface and the second surface and peripherally about the sheet of material; and recording the measured physical property in a measure database indexed by the edge code. To verify the validity of a sheet of material, the edge code is read, the same physical property is measured and the measured value is compared with the previously stored value extracted from the measure database. If the two are substantially equal, the sheet of material is authentic.