Multiple concurrent language support system for electronic catalogue using a concept based knowledge representation

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A computer based multiple concurrent language electronic catalog system comprising: means for providing concept entities in a concept entity based hierarchical knowledge representation of symbols for the electronic catalog; means for dividing the concept entities of the hierarchical knowledge representation of the symbols into computer readable manipulation forms of the symbols used for computer manipulation and for storage retrieval and not for end user Presentations and human readable locale specific presentation forms of the symbols with parent and child entities hierarchically linked so that the presentation forms of the symbols are translated once and inherited for end user presentation of concept entities in locale contexts wherein there is a plurality of different locale specific presentation forms associated with each manipulation form and wherein there are multiple manipulation forms associated with a locale specific presentation form when there are multiple semantically different uses of a symbol in the same locale presentation form; means for permitting selection by users of one or more of the presentation forms for each of the manipulation forms for presenting the concept entities in a selected locale context; means for maintaining the selected presentation form separate from the manipulation form; and means for providing a concept entity based on navigating through the electronic catalog using the manipulation form of the concept whereby translations of symbols are shared while semantic differences in use of symbols in a particular locale are resolved.
2.
The computer based multiple concurrent language electronic catalog system of claim 1 wherein said locale specific presentation forms each comprise said conceptual entities presented in a different language.
3.
The computer based multiple concurrent language electronic catalog system of claim 1 wherein said locale specific presentation forms each comprise said conceptual entities presented in a different form of the same language