System and method for character-based conversation through a network between different languages

A translating apparatus for a conversation system operating in a network, said conversation system having:

• a server apparatus which transfers character-based messages through said network;
• and
• a plurality of terminal apparatuses which perform a conversation using said-character based messages transferred by said server apparatus through said network,
• wherein said translating apparatus is connected to said network, and when it receives one of said character-based messages, which is transmitted from one of said plurality of terminal apparatuses through said network in a first language, translates said one received message in said first language into a translated character-based message in a second language, and transmits said translated message in said second language to said server apparatus,
• wherein said translated message translated by said translating apparatus is transferred in said second language to at least one terminal apparatus during a conversation among said plurality of terminal apparatuses by said server apparatus,
• wherein said translating apparatus, when it receives another one of said character-based messages, which is transmitted in said second language by another terminal apparatus other than said one terminal apparatus, translates said another received message in said second language into another translated message in said first language, and transmits said another translated message in said first language to said server apparatus, and
• wherein said translating apparatus includes:
• a recording unit which records a history of the translation of the one received message in said first language into the translated message in said second language and a history of the translation of the another received message in said second language into the another translated message in the first language;
• and
• a charging unit which charges said one terminal apparatus in accordance with said histories recorded in said recording unit.

A server apparatus for a conversation system operating in a network, which transfers character-based messages through said network, said conversation system having:

• a plurality of terminal apparatuses which perform a conversation using said-character based messages transferred by said server apparatus through said network;
• and
• a translating apparatus connected to said network, which when it receives one of said character-based messages, which is transmitted from one of said plurality of terminal apparatuses through said network in a first language, translates said one received message in said first language into a translated character-based message in a second language, and transmits said translated message in said second language to said server apparatus, wherein
• the translated message which is received from said translating apparatus in said second language is transferred to at least one terminal apparatus during a conversation among said plurality of terminal apparatuses, wherein
• said translating apparatus, when it receives another one of said character-based messages, which is transmitted in said second language by another terminal apparatus other than said one terminal apparatus, translates said another received message in said second language into another translated message in said first language, and transmits said another translated message in said first language to said server apparatus, and
• said translating apparatus includes:
• a recording unit which records a history of the translation of the one received message in said first language into the translated message in said second language and a history of the translation of the another received message in said second language into the another translated message in the first language;
• and
• a charging unit which charges said one terminal apparatus in accordance with said histories recorded in said recording unit.

A terminal apparatus for a conversation system operating in a network, wherein

• said terminal apparatus is on of a plurality of terminal apparatuses which perform a conversation through said network using character-based messages,
• said conversation system includes:
• a server apparatus which transfers said character-based messages through said network;
• and
• a translating apparatus connected to said network, which when it receives one of said character-based messages, which is transmitted from said terminal apparatus through said network in a first language, translates said one received message in said first language into a translated character-based message in a second language, and transmits said translated message in said second language to said server apparatus,
• the translated message which is transmitted from said translating apparatus in said second language is transferred to at least one terminal apparatus during a conversation among said plurality of terminal apparatuses by said server apparatus,
• said translating apparatus, when it receives another one of said character-based messages, which is transmitted in said second language by another one of the plurality of terminal apparatuses other than said terminal apparatus, translates said another received message in said second language into another translated message in said first language, and transmits said another translated message in said first language to said server apparatus, and
• said translating apparatus includes:
• a recording unit which records a history of the translation of the one received message in said first language into the translated message in said second language and a history of the translation of the another received message in said second language into the another translated message in the first language;
• and
• a charging unit which charges said terminal apparatus in accordance with said histories recorded in said recording unit.

A method for conversation through a network, comprising:

• transmitting a first character-based message in a first language through said network from a first terminal apparatus to a server apparatus;
• translating the first message received by the server apparatus in the first language into a second character-based message in a second language;
• transferring the second message in the second language from the server apparatus to a second terminal apparatus;
• transmitting a third character-based message in the second language from the second terminal apparatus to the server apparatus;
• translating the third message received by the server apparatus in the second language into a fourth character-based message in the first language;
• transferring the fourth message in the first language from the server apparatus to the first terminal apparatus;
• recording a history of the translation of the first message in the first language into the second message in the second language and a history of the translation of the third message in the second language into the fourth message in the first language;
• and
• charging the first terminal apparatus in accordance with said recorded histories.