Method and system for document translation and extraction

A method for translating an electronic source document having a first format into an electronic target document having a second format, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting portions from the source document having various constructs and formats;
• extracting the selected portions from the source document;
• transforming the format of the extracted portions into the second format of the electronic target document;
• deducing a translation rule set from the extracted portions and the transformed portions;
• applying the translation rule set to the electronic source document;
• producing a first draft of the electronic target document as the translation rule set is applied to the electronic source document;
• identifying portions from the electronic source document which were unable to be translated into the electronic target document;
• modifying the translation rule set to account for the identified untranslatable portions, the modified translation rule set being a new rule set;
• applying the new rule set to the electronic source document;
• and
• repeating the steps of producing, identifying, modifying, and applying, until the target document is in a desired format.

A system for translating an electronic source document having a first format into an electronic target document having a second format, the system comprising:

• means for selecting portions from the source document having various constructs and formats;
• means for extracting the selected portions from the source document;
• means for transforming the format of the extracted portions into the second format of the electronic target document;
• means for deducing a translation rule set from the extracted portions and the transformed portions;
• first means for applying the translation rule set to the electronic source document;
• first means for producing a first draft of the electronic target document as the translation rule set is applied to the electronic source document;
• and
• first means for identifying portions from the electronic source document which were unable to be translated into the target document.

A system for translating an electronic source document having a first format into an electronic target document having a second format, the system comprising:

• means for selecting portions from the source document having various constructs and formats;
• means for extracting the selected portions from the source document;
• means for transforming the format of the extracted portions into the second format of the electronic target document;
• means for deducing a translation rule set from the transformed portions;
• first means for applying the translation rule set to the electronic source document;
• means for producing a first draft of the electronic target document as the translation rule set is applied to the electronic source document;
• means for identifying portions from the electronic source document which were unable to be translated into the electronic target document;
• means for modifying the translation rule set to account for the identified untranslatable portions, the modified translation rule set being a new rule set;
• second means for applying the new rule set to the electronic source document;
• and
• means for repeating the steps of producing, identifying, modifying, and applying, until the target document is in a desired format.