Looking at what companies around the world are doing in the name of patents and trademarks, it seems that Blackboard Inc has filed for a 'patent'
"Internet-based education support system and method with multi-language capability"
Here are some notes from the patent application:
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A method of determining and displaying one or more locales on a web browser, comprising the steps of: providing in the web browser a plurality of display regions; associating a locale with a plurality of web pages; selecting by a user a user-specified locale; associating the locale with one or more particular display regions; determining whether the locale is mandatory; and if the locale is mandatory, translating content associated with the user-specified locale to content associated with the locale.
- The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of display regions is not subject to the locale.
- The method according to claim 2, wherein the user-specified locale is used to display content in the at least one of the plurality of display regions not subject to the locale.
- The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying content in the one or more particular display regions in accordance with the locale.
- A method of determining and displaying one or more locales on a web browser, comprising the steps of: providing in the web browser a plurality of display regions; associating a locale with a plurality of web pages; providing for a user a user-locale; associating the locale with one or more particular display regions; determining whether the locale is mandatory; and if the locale is mandatory, translating content associated with the user-specified locale to content associated with the locale.
...ok, there's more to this. But! my question is, will it be a matter of time before Bb knocks on say Uni Heidelberg or Manheim's doors and says...well you know what!
Am I off the mark here? Or, is the dotLRN governence board looking into these aspects? Is it an insignificant issue?
Thoughts....
btw...you can find more about such things at the US Patents and Trademarks office website, when these claims are made public.
