U.S. patent application number 09/211026 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-08 for distance learning implementation.
Invention is credited to FARGNOLI, MARK, HUNT, KEVIN, MURRAY, DANIEL, NUGENT, MARK.
Application Number | 20010039568 09/211026 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22785310 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010039568 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MURRAY, DANIEL ; et
al. |
November 8, 2001 |
DISTANCE LEARNING IMPLEMENTATION
Abstract
A distance learning implementation is effected as a
client/server solution with a centralized server facility and a
remote client facility. The centralized server facility includes a
first network with at least one host processor system and
associated operating software. Each of the at least one host
processor system(s) is configured in the network with at least one
specialized apparatus, such as an Integrated Cache Disk Array,
which represents an operating environment for purposes of training
remote trainees. A gateway, in the form of a router, provides
access to the centralized server facility network, and the at least
one host processor system is selectably accessible through a switch
in the server facility network. A remote training facility network
is configured as a client with a minimal amount of hardware to
access the centralized server facility network over a standard
digital communications network, such as an integrated services
digital network (ISDN) line. The remote training facility network
comprises at least one portable computer, such as a laptop PC,
interconnected via a hub router to the standard digital
communications network. The remote training facility is easily
configured and deconfigured by a training specialist.
Inventors: |
MURRAY, DANIEL; (SHREWSBURY,
MA) ; NUGENT, MARK; (FITCHBURG, MA) ; HUNT,
KEVIN; (NORTHBOROUGH, MA) ; FARGNOLI, MARK;
(LOWELL, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRIAN L MICHAELIS
BROWN RUDNICK FREED & GESMER
ONE FINANCIAL CENTER
BOSTON
MA
02111
|
Family ID: |
22785310 |
Appl. No.: |
09/211026 |
Filed: |
December 14, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/204 ;
709/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 5/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/204 ;
709/217 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for effecting a distance learning configuration,
comprising: a training apparatus configured in a central network,
the central network including at least one host processor; at least
one training computer configured in a remote network; a
communication channel between the central network and the remote
network; a connection mechanism selectively linking the central
network to the remote network over the communication channel, the
connection mechanism establishing a selected one of the at least
one training computers as a client in communication with a selected
one of the at least one host processors networked with the training
apparatus, wherein a user of the training computer can utilize the
training apparatus in conjunction with a selected one of the at
least one host processor in a substantially real-time operating
environment.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one host processor
comprises a mainframe computer, and the connection mechanism
comprises a 3270 terminal emulator client software operative on the
selected one training computer.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one host processor
is an NT-based server, and the connection mechanism comprises
Windows-based terminal emulator client software on the selected one
training computer.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one host processor
is a UNIX-based server, and the connection mechanism comprises:
Windows-based terminal emulator client software on the selected
training computer, a central server configured for application
server operations networked with said central network.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one host processor
comprises at least one of a mainframe computer, an NT-based server
and a UNIX-based server, and wherein the connection mechanism
comprises at least one of a 3270 terminal emulator client operative
on at least one of the at least one training computer, a
Windows-based terminal emulator client on at least one of the at
least one training computers, and a Windows-based terminal emulator
client on at least one of the at least one training computers
together with a central server configured for application server
operations networked with said central network.
6. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the remote network
comprises a remote router directing data to a next network point
toward the final destination.
7. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the central network
comprises a gateway router directing data to a next network point
toward the final destination.
7. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the central network
comprises a standalone switch.
8. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the communication
channel comprises an ISDN line.
9. The system of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the training
apparatus comprises a integrated cache disk array.
10. A method of configuring a distance learning implementation,
comprising the steps of: configuring a training apparatus within a
central network, the central network having at least one host
processor; configuring at least one training computer within a
remote network; providing a communication channel between the
central network and the remote network; selectively linking the
central network to the remote network over the communication
channel and establishing a selected one of the at least one
training computers as a client in communication with a selected one
of the at least one host processors networked with the training
apparatus utilizing the training apparatus in conjunction with a
selected one of the at least one host processor in a substantially
real-time operating environment.
11. A method for training users on a centrally located resource
from a remote site, the centrally located training resource
networked to a central network having at least one host processor,
and the central network being connected via a communication channel
to the remote site, comprising the steps of: connecting at least
one training computer to a remote router; connecting the router to
the communication channel; completing a substantially real-time
connection to the centrally located training resource from the at
least one training computer; instructing a user of the at least one
training computer on the operation of the centrally located
training resource.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to computer interconnectivity
in general, and more specifically to an inter-network based system
enabling training of multiple users at remote sites using
stationary and geographically remote computer equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In modern computer implementations, there are frequently
very specialized and expensive apparatus for which training of end
users is required. Because of the cost of these apparatus, it is
frequently not cost effective for a purchaser to divert the
apparatus from its intended, specialized implementation in order
for training to be performed. This is especially true where the
equipment is implemented for a critical use, and cannot be
diverted. Equally infeasible is for the manufacturer of the
specialized equipment to transport, configure and implement an
additional unit at the purchaser's site to facilitate training, or
to transport the potentially numerous end users to a central
training facility.
[0003] The notion of a distance learning arrangement using area
networks is known. Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) is a proven
training method that uses interactive technologies to allow
instructors and students to communicate from geographically
dispersed locations. Instruction can be transmitted through a
business television network, point-to-point videoconferencing
networks, or over the Internet or intranets. IDL allows one expert
to transmit to and to train a potentially unlimited audience. Plus,
it provides a means for immediately ascertaining audience
comprehension and tracking overall training results. The classic
IDL model is the transmission of training over these networks in an
essentially broadcast-type manner, with feedback permitted back to
the instructor. These prior art solutions, however, are not
configured to allow multi-user point-to-point interface to a
central processing apparatus from a remote site. That is, trainees
at the remote site are typically not able to train in the real-time
environment of the specialized, expensive apparatus. Again,
transporting the specialized, expensive equipment or apparatus to
the remote site for real-time environment training is cost
prohibitive. In any event, installing such transported equipment
might take weeks or months to install and configure, and would
require many manhours provided by highly technically trained
personnel.
[0004] Other prior art tools are predominantly configured for
conferencing between different users over a network, or multipoint
dataconferencing.
[0005] Multimedia telecommunications using multipoint
dataconferencing involve the transport of information signals in a
wide range of formats flexibly. Therefore, the communication
protocol must not be confined to point-to-point operation between
identical terminals but permit group working between many terminals
which may be geographically dispersed and very diverse in their
types. Such a protocol is defined in a series of ITU
Recommendations collectively referred to as the T.120 series. Such
multimedia telecommunications does not address the problem of
training remote trainees in the real-time environment of
specialized, expensive apparatus.
[0006] Microsoft's.RTM. NetMeeting, which employs the T.120
standard, is perhaps the best known remote conferencing software
available. Using NetMeeting, users in different locations with
access to the Internet, or an intranet, can communicate via audio
and video, and share Windows.RTM. based applications. While
NetMeeting has been relatively successful in allowing collaboration
over a network, the software is designed to allow several users to
share data and to provide video telephony between conference
participants. The software does not support multiple remote user
access to a single resource and the independent transmission of
data to a separate audiovisual device, such as an LCD projector.
NetMeeting is designed to share screen behavior, and not to
facilitate common interface sharing. Thus, while NetMeeting is
potentially useful for collaborative use of a Windows.RTM.
application, and for transferring digital behavior from one user to
another, it is ill-suited for distance learning where a central
resource is to be shared by multiple remote users in real time.
Further, because NetMeeting is designed to operate over the
Internet or local intranet, the content data which is transmitted
is subject to the T.120 standard for data conferencing, which is
primarily designed for whiteboarding, chatting, and file
transfer.
[0007] Other conferencing products include Atrium.TM. and Connectix
Videophone. As with NetMeeting.RTM., these programs do not solve
the ongoing need for a transportable, remote client/central server
solution for Distance Learning. None of the available conferencing
products facilitate training of remote users in the real-time
environment of an expensive, specialized apparatus centrally
located some distance from the remote trainees.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides an easily transportable,
quickly deployable distance learning implementation for networked
communication between centralized host processor equipment and
specialized, expensive systems, and a remote classroom with a
plurality of students.
[0009] According to the invention, a distance learning
implementation is effected as a client/server solution with a
centralized server facility and a remote client facility. The
centralized server facility includes a first network with at least
one host processor system and associated operating software. Each
of the at least one host processor system(s), such as a mainframe,
UNIX-based or Windows NT-based server, is configured in the network
with at least one specialized apparatus, such as an Integrated
Cache Disk Array, which represents an operating environment for
purposes of training remote trainees. A gateway, in the form of a
router, provides access to the centralized server facility network,
and the at least one host processor system is selectably accessible
through a switch in the server facility network.
[0010] In further accord with the invention each remote training
facility network is configured as a client with a minimal amount of
hardware to access the centralized server facility network over a
standard digital communications network, such as an integrated
services digital network (ISDN) line. Each remote training facility
network comprises at least one portable computer, such as a laptop
PC, interconnected via a hub router to the standard digital
communications network. The remote training facility is easily
configured and deconfigured by a training specialist.
[0011] Features of the invention include configuration of multiple
remote training facilities that are easily portable as a result of
minimized component configuration. The distance learning
implementation empowers an organization to replicate the online
experience that students will encounter when using the central
resource, such as the real-time environment of a host system and/or
expensive dedicated system, without incurring the costs (and risk)
associated with transporting specialized, expensive equipment to a
remote site for training, and without incurring the cost of
transporting trainees to a centralized facility or premises housing
the specialized, expensive equipment on which the trainees are
trained. Training can be provided to a plurality of users, at low
cost, at multiple remote sites using the real-time environment of a
central resource including expensive, sophisticated hardware and
software that is effectively protected by the limited access
thereto. The remote site to which training is delivered can be
virtually anywhere in the world with an appropriate connection
type, including a client's own site, or even hotel and conference
rooms. The training equipment according to the invention is highly
and easily portable for use in any location, with scaleability and
flexibility allowing easy upgrading or migration to different
connectivity options or platforms as needs change. Minimal
configuration changes and minimal recabling between sites is
required over time, in one embodiment, through the use of ISDN
technology. The illustrative implementation according to the
invention, uses an ISDN, circuit switched service, which means that
the remote site is only connected when it is being used. This keeps
telecommunications line charges for the client to server connection
to a minimum. The configuration uses standard, commercially
available hardware at the central site and in the remote classroom
to arrive at an economical, easy to implement and easily portable
distance learning solution.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
present invention will be more fully understood from the following
detailed description of an illustrative embodiment, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagrammatic overview of a distance
learning configuration according to the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of hardware required at a remote
site for training using the distance learning configuration of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0015] The present invention will be described herein with
reference to an illustrative embodiment of a distance learning
configuration as depicted in FIG. 1. The invention relies on a
client/server model of distributed computing. A central resource 10
is located at a central site, and comprises one or more stationary
facilities. These stationary facilities in this illustrative
embodiment comprise different hardware platforms and respective
operating systems. An Amdahl mainframe(s) 12 and/or other host
processor systems 14, each of which can be configured to be
accessed remotely during the course of training, represent
significant bulk and hardware cost that makes shipping to remote
sites for training purposes cost prohibitive. These hardware
platforms include respective costly software systems, for example,
UNIX or AIX, SunOS, HP-UX, NT etc., which add further cost and
sophistication mitigating against shipping and configuring the
central resources at a remote site for training. These systems may
each have, additionally, a wide variety of other software
applications which are to be accessed remotely.
[0016] The central site also contains specialized equipment 16
and/or software, for which training is required, which in this
illustrative embodiment is a Symmetrix.RTM. Integrated Cache Disk
Array from EMC Corporation Hopkinton, Mass. Such specialized
equipment is accessible via, and requires in operation, one or more
of the stationary facilities 12, 14. Thus, the central site
comprises a first network comprising a plurality of commonly
commercially-used mainframes or systems configured to access
sophisticated and costly storage equipment and related software.
Clearly, shipping the various mainframe computers and the Symmetrix
storage system to a remote site for training would be complicated
and expensive.
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the host processor computer(s) and
Symmetrix storage system are configured in the network to allow
interconnectivity of the central site's computational resources.
These resources must be routed and switched. As will be appreciated
by those skilled in the art, in a computer network a router is a
piece of hardware with software that determines the next point on
the network to which a given piece of information is sent toward
its final destination. The router is generally connected between
networks and decides how to send data bundles, or "packets," based
on the current states of the networks it serves. A router at the
server side of a network is called a "gateway". The present
invention has the central site configured as the server side and a
corresponding router 20 as a gateway. As will be discussed further
hereinbelow, in the illustrative embodiment of the invention the
classroom resources are configured as networked clients.
[0018] The present invention utilizes a hardware solution for
routing, in the form of router 20, on the server side. Technology
has dramatically improved router reliability and flexibility in
recent years, and routers contain their own software for governing
operations. Generally, a router's software maintains information
regarding the available data routes, their conditions, distance and
cost algorithms to determine the best route for a given data
packet. In the present invention, the router is relied upon to
distribute the computational power of the central site resources to
the remote classroom.
[0019] The router 20 advantageously provides both routing and
bridging for a wide variety of protocols and network media between
the central facilities resources and the remote site. The router
comprises network interfaces resident on port adapters, that
provide a connection between the router's Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI) busses and external networks, and advantageously
support any combination of interfaces, such as Ethernet, Fast
Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, ATM, serial, ISDN, and HSSI.
[0020] The router 20 in this illustrative embodiment also
accommodates online insertion and removal (OIR) of port adapters
and service adapters, allowing updates without taking the network
off-line for added flexibility. The selected router is based on an
architecture of field replaceable units (FRUs), and includes flash
memory (PCMCIA) ports or other means for rapid updating of
software. A representative router 20 for the central facility is
the Model 7200 Series available from Cisco.RTM. Systems.
[0021] The present invention relies on a packet-switched
architecture, as opposed to a circuit switching model. Circuit
switching provides a specific path that is used exclusively by two
or more nodes. The path is dedicated and continuously connected
during its use. By contrast, packet-switching, such as used on the
internet, allows all network users to share the same paths at the
same time. The actual route traveled by a data packet varies
according to traffic and availability of a path. When a
transmission is initiated, a piece of data is split into packets,
and each packet is addressed and disseminated. As the data packets
travel, they are frequently passed along different paths to the
final destination where the data is reassembled.
[0022] To enable a switched architecture, a standalone switch 22 is
connected between the router 20 and the central site's various
computational resources. The switch replaces shared hubs, such as
10BaseT hubs. The standalone switch 22 can be connected, in
addition to the central site router, to other routers and any other
users connected to the central facility, such as onsite classrooms,
internet gateways, WinFrame.RTM. servers, etc. The instant
invention utilizes a switched architecture for faster and more
efficient data traffic, as opposed to a ring or bus architecture,
in which all network locations inspect each message and act only on
those addressed to that destination.
[0023] The switch 22 selects a path for sending a unit of data to
or from each of the central site's resources to its next
destination. In general, a switch is contrasted to the router in
that the router requires knowledge about the network and how to
determine the route, whereas the switch merely allocates available
bandwidth to the required traffic. In modem networks, switches are
found at the backbone and gateway levels, where one network
connects with another and at the subnetwork level where data is
being forwarded close to its destination or origin.
[0024] The standalone switch selected in the illustrative
embodiment optimizes the balance between flexibility and network
latency. The switch is capable of delivering up to 320 Mbps
forwarding bandwidth and 450,000 pps aggregate packet forwarding
rate. It is flexibly configurable between cut-through and
store-and-forward switching. A representative standalone switch 22
for the central facility is the Catalyst 1900 Series available from
Cisco.RTM.) Systems.
[0025] The illustrative embodiment of the present invention relies
on client/server architecture using specific software for accessing
the three different types of host processors: Mainframe, Unix and
NT. A centrally located server is used which communicates with the
remote clients and runs individual sessions for each client when
the clients are accessing the UNIX based host processor(s). This
server 15 (FIG. 1) can be an NT-based platform running application
server operations software, e.g. WinFrame.RTM. software by Citrix
Systems.
[0026] A remote site 30, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, is the client
side of the client/server implementation according to the
invention. The remote site 30 is configured to provide each
classroom participant with his or her own computer 32 for real-time
online training in the environment of the central site's resources.
According to the illustrative embodiment, PC laptops running
Windows.RTM. 95 were selected for portability, availability,
supportability and familiarity to most computer users. These
laptops are configured to serve as emulation terminals using
X-Windows compatible clients, when communicating with UNIX and NT
based host processors, and as 3270 emulation terminals when
communicating with MVS based Mainframe host processors.
[0027] Exceed.RTM. is a widely used emulation software allowing
cross-platform, hardware-independent, window-based network
interface, allowing PCs to access many different computing
platforms. Exceed, available from Hummingbird Communications, is
advantageously available for virtually any workstation, mainframe
or high-end microcomputer.
[0028] The Exceed software is itself based on a server/client
architecture, and facilitates the client/server implementation
according to the invention. In emulation the central site
facilities, i.e. the server, controls the display directly, and is
responsible for all input/output via the keyboard, mouse or display
on the laptop. The clients communicate with the server causing the
server to open one or more remote sessions to handle input and
output for that client.
[0029] Various connection mechanisms will now be described which
allow the laptops on the remote network to flexibly and selectively
connect to the central site.
[0030] For laptops 32 at a remote site to access the centrally
located mainframe 12, the computer user starts a client session of
Exceed which is used in the 3270 terminal emulation mode, by
selecting an appropriate icon. This session request is sent through
the remote router 34, through the ISDN line 36 to the centrally
located router 10 and therethrough to the centrally located switch
to the mainframe 12, where it effects a login.
[0031] For laptops 32 at a remote site to access the centrally
located NT server(s) 14, the computer user starts a client session
of a program Carbon Copy.RTM. available from Compaq Computer Corp.,
which is used for terminal emulation. This session request is sent
through the remote router 34, through the ISDN line 36 to the
centrally located router 10 and therethrough to the centrally
located switch to the NT server 14 requested, where it effects a
login.
[0032] For laptops 32 at a remote site to access the centrally
located UNIX server(s) 14, the computer user starts a client
session of Winframe, which is used as the client/server software.
This session request is sent through the remote router 34, through
the ISDN line 36 to the centrally located router 10 and
therethrough to the centrally located switch to the WinFrame server
15. At the centrally located WinFrame server, the client software
logs into an account. The account information is maintained on each
of the laptops at the remote site. Once the remote site client logs
on to the centrally located WinFrame server, an Exceed session is
started. The Exceed session will examine each of the connections on
the standalone switch 22 and present to the remote site session a
list of available UNIX servers 14. One of the UNIX servers 14 is
then selected and the remote session can then log in.
[0033] For UNIX based host processors, the laptops 32 at the remote
facility 30, i.e. the clients, do not access the host processors
directly. Rather, they communicate with the WinFrame server, which
handles all input and output. In contrast to classical monolithic
mainframe-terminal based computing, the WinFrame server running
Exceed does the real computing and display work. The clients
communicate with the WinFrame server, causing the WinFrame server
to open one or more sessions to handle input and output from that
client.
[0034] This software/hardware architecture advantageously allows
the remote clients, i.e. lap tops 32 run by trainees, to run on the
much more powerful central site machines 12, 14 using their
high-resolution displays in real-time. Further, a number of remote
site clients may all send input and output to the same or different
central site facilities or servers. In the illustrative embodiment,
for example, it is possible for different classroom participants to
access different resources at the central site, for example a
Hewlett-Packard K460 or a Sun Ultra 2 Model 2200, each of which are
connected to the Symmetrix.RTM. data storage system 16. In this way
flexible training can be delivered.
[0035] The personal computers 32 used at the remote site are
connected to a remote site hub router 34 designed for the
appropriately sized access environment. As discussed generally
above, the router 34 is responsible for managing the traffic, in
this case the emulation traffic generated by the remote site
computers. In the illustrative embodiment, the system relies on
ISDN connectivity between the remote 30 and central site 10, thus
the hub router in the illustrative embodiment contains an ISDN
Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and terminal adapter, and includes
scaleability through the inclusion of repeater connectivity and
additional synchronous interfaces for added remote connectivity. A
representative hub router 34 for the remote facility 30 is the
Model 2516 available from Cisco.RTM. Systems.
[0036] The setup of the remote site is handled easily by an
education specialist. A minimal amount of hardware needs to be
handled. The laptops 32 are each connected to the hub router 34
using appropriate cables, for example standard Ethernet cables. The
hub router 34 is next connected to a remote ISDN circuit 36 using a
standard NT-1 network terminator. The network terminator provides
the interface between the ISDN circuit 36 and the hub router 34. A
representative NT-1 terminator is available from Pacific
Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
[0037] After the connections are made, connectivity tests between
the remote PCs 32 and the hub router 34, between the hub router 34
and each of the central site router 20 and resources 22, 12, 14 can
commence.
[0038] The invention accommodates multiple remote sessions 30
accessing the central facility at the same time. These discrete
remote sessions can be run at the same time, and at the same time
that local training is being provided at the central facility using
the same central site equipment.
[0039] In addition to PCs 32, a typical remote multimedia
presentation apparatus, such as an LCD screen projector or the like
can also be implemented for displaying educational programming to
the class at the remote facility.
[0040] While the illustrative embodiment herein is described as
using particular models of routers, switches, PCs and
communications interconnections, it should be appreciated that
alternative models having substantially similar capabilities could
be configured in an implementation according to the invention
Similarly, although an Amdahl mainframe, or UNIX-based or NT-based
servers are described in the illustrative embodiment herein as
representative host processors, it will be appreciated that more
host processors can be implemented at the central facility, such as
IBM mainframe host processors or the like.
[0041] While an Integrated Cache Disk Array is described in the
illustrative embodiment as being connected to the host processors
for effecting training in the real-time environment of these
costly, sophisticated apparatus, it will be appreciated that other
equipment could be located at the central site and inter-networked
with the host processor(s).
[0042] Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, various other changes,
additions and omissions in the form and detail thereof may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *