U.S. patent application number 10/843269 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-21 for study aid apparatus and method of using study aid apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Chapman, Kelly, Earp, Ann F., Fishbach, Matthew P., Hartzell, Andrew B., McClintock, Christa, Wood, Michael C..
Application Number | 20040206809 10/843269 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27396571 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040206809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wood, Michael C. ; et
al. |
October 21, 2004 |
Study aid apparatus and method of using study aid apparatus
Abstract
A method of using a study aid apparatus is disclosed. The method
includes receiving supplemental information associated with a
printed textbook. After receiving the supplemental information, it
can be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus. The study aid
apparatus is then used to help learn about subject matter in the
textbook.
Inventors: |
Wood, Michael C.; (Orinda,
CA) ; Chapman, Kelly; (Foster City, CA) ;
McClintock, Christa; (San Francisco, CA) ; Earp, Ann
F.; (San Francisco, CA) ; Hartzell, Andrew B.;
(Emeryville, CA) ; Fishbach, Matthew P.;
(Piedmont, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
Emeryville
CA
|
Family ID: |
27396571 |
Appl. No.: |
10/843269 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10843269 |
May 10, 2004 |
|
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10218688 |
Aug 12, 2002 |
|
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60347783 |
Jan 9, 2002 |
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60313104 |
Aug 17, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
235/375 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/00 |
Claims
1. A method of using a study aid apparatus, the method comprising:
a) receiving supplemental information associated with a printed
textbook; b) loading the supplemental information into a portable,
study aid apparatus; and c) using the portable, study aid apparatus
to help learn about subject matter in the textbook.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information
includes multiple choice questions.
3.-4. (canceled)
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable, study aid apparatus
includes a) a housing, b) a processor in the housing, c) an audio
device for providing the supplemental information to the user,
wherein the audio device is coupled to the processor, d) a display
device for displaying the supplemental information to the user,
wherein the display device is coupled to the processor, e) a memory
for storing the supplemental information and being coupled to the
processor, and f) a keyboard coupled to the processor.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:
viewing a question and listening to the question substantially
simultaneously.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein a) receiving the supplemental
information includes downloading the supplemental information from
a server computer to a client computer.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein a) receiving the supplemental
information includes downloading the supplemental information from
a server computer to a client computer, and wherein the method
further comprises: transferring the supplemental information from
the client computer to a linker device; transferring the
supplemental information from the linker device onto a transferable
information storage medium; and inserting the transferable
information storage medium into the portable, study aid
apparatus.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the printed textbook is a math
textbook, a science textbook, a language arts textbook, a social
studies textbook, or a foreign language textbook.
10. A portable, study aid apparatus for use in a system including
the portable, study aid apparatus and a printed textbook, the
portable, study aid apparatus comprising: a) a housing; b) a
processor in the housing; c) an audio device for providing
supplemental information associated with the printed textbook to
the user in audio form, wherein the audio device is coupled to the
processor; d) a memory for storing the supplemental information and
being coupled to the processor; and e) an input device coupled to
the processor.
11. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 further
comprising: f) a display device coupled to the processor, and a
speech synthesizer coupled to the processor.
12. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 wherein the input
device comprises a keyboard, and wherein the supplemental
information is downloaded from a server computer via the
Internet.
13. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 further
comprising: f) a display device coupled to the processor, wherein
the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.
14. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 wherein the audio
device comprises a speaker.
15. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 further
comprising a transferable information storage medium and a slot for
the transferable information storage medium.
16. (canceled)
17. The portable, study aid apparatus of any of claim 10 wherein
the supplemental information comprises chapter-specific questions
for the printed textbook.
18. A kit comprising: the study aid apparatus of claim 10; and a
transferable information storage medium including supplemental
information for the textbook.
19.-21. (canceled).
22. A method for providing supplemental information for a printed
textbook to a user, the method comprising: a) receiving
supplemental information for a plurality of printed textbooks; b)
storing the supplemental information for the plurality of textbooks
in a database; and c) sending the supplemental information to a
user via the Internet, wherein the supplemental information is to
be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus that is to be used
with the printed textbook.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein sending the supplemental
information associated with one or more of the textbooks in the
plurality of textbooks to a user includes sending the supplemental
information associated with the one or more textbooks in the
plurality of textbooks from a server computer to a client computer
via the Internet.
24. The method of claim 22 wherein the supplemental information
includes chapter-specific questions.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This U.S. non-provisional application claims the benefit of
the filing dates of U.S. provisional patent application Nos.
60/313,104, filed Aug. 17, 2001, and 60/347,783, filed Jan. 9,
2002. These provisional applications and any U.S. patents or patent
applications mentioned below are herein incorporated by reference
in their entirety for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Public school systems have operated in substantially the
same manner for many years. A student, particularly from middle
school on, uses at least one printed textbook for each major
subject that the student is studying.
[0003] Among the various proposals to improve the education
process, some have proposed replacing printed textbooks with
electronic textbooks. Among the stated advantages of doing so,
using electronic textbooks in place of printed textbooks reduces
the costs associated with printing and allows for rapid updating of
the textbooks. While these advantages are desirable, printed
textbooks are still widely used in schools despite the ever
increasing use of electronics in peoples' daily lives. Unlike
electronic textbooks, printed textbooks are often easier to read
than electronic textbooks, because printed pages have less glare
than display screens. Printed pages also have better resolution and
contrast than display screens. Also, a student can more easily tab
the pages in the textbook than the screens in an electronic
textbook. A printed textbook can consequently be easier to review
than an electronic textbook. For these and other reasons, printed
textbooks are likely to remain in schools for some time to
come.
[0004] However, using printed textbooks alone has a number of
disadvantages. For instance, many of the printed questions at the
end of a specific chapter in a textbook may not truly test a
person's comprehension of the subject matter in the chapter. A
student can have a desire or tendency to "peek" at the questions
and possibly the answers at the end of a chapter in a textbook
before they have actually fully read the chapter. Although such
questions are meant to be "fresh" questions that are presented to
the student after the student is done reading a particular chapter,
the questions may not in fact be fresh questions to the user.
Consequently, after the user reads the chapter and answers the
questions, the results obtained may not be an accurate indication
of the student's true understanding the subject matter in the
chapter. Also, while the printed questions test a student's
understanding of the subject matter in a chapter in a textbook, the
questions may quickly become untimely. Questions and subject matter
in a science book, for example, can be readily outdated due to
changing current events. Moreover, printed textbooks also have only
a limited number of questions at the end of each chapter. Once a
user attempts the questions at the end of a chapter in a printed
textbook, there are no more questions available for a user to try.
The user's ability to prepare for an upcoming exam can be limited
by the number of available questions in the printed textbook.
Lastly, it is difficult for a user to record his performance using
paper alone. When using only a printed textbook, a user would
essentially have to manually record the number of questions that
were successfully answered after doing each self-test. This is
cumbersome and the user is unlikely to do this.
[0005] It would be desirable to retain the use of printed
textbooks, while using electronics technology to address the
deficiencies of printed textbooks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Embodiments of the invention relate to study aid
apparatuses, methods of using the study aid apparatuses and systems
using the study aid apparatuses.
[0007] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of
using a study aid apparatus, the method comprising: a) receiving
supplemental information associated with a printed textbook; b)
loading the supplemental information into a portable, study aid
apparatus; and c) using the portable, study aid apparatus to help
learn about subject matter in the textbook.
[0008] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a
portable, study aid apparatus for use in a system including the
portable, study aid apparatus and a printed textbook, the portable,
study aid apparatus comprising: a) a housing; b) a processor in the
housing; c) an audio device for providing supplemental information
associated with the printed textbook to the user in audio form,
wherein the audio device is coupled to the processor; d) a memory
for storing the supplemental information and being coupled to the
processor; and e) an input device coupled to the processor.
[0009] Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method
for providing supplemental information for a printed textbook to a
user, the method comprising: a) receiving supplemental information
for a plurality of printed textbooks; b) storing the supplemental
information for the plurality of textbooks in a database; and c)
sending the supplemental information to a user via the Internet,
wherein the supplemental information is to be loaded into a
portable, study aid apparatus that is to be used with the printed
textbook.
[0010] Systems including the above-described methods and study aid
apparatuses are also disclosed.
[0011] These and other embodiments of the invention are described
in further detail below with reference to the foregoing drawings
and detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1(a) shows a front view of a study aid apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 1(b) shows a side view of a study aid apparatus
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of some components of a study
aid apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a system according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart illustrating a method according to
an embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows exemplary display that could be displayed to a
user when using a study aid apparatus according to an embodiment of
the invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary Web page.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of
using a portable, study aid apparatus. The method includes
receiving supplemental information associated with a printed
textbook (such as an academic textbook). Preferably, the
supplemental information is received by a user from a server
computer that is accessible through the Internet. The supplemental
information supplements subject matter that is in a printed
textbook that is used in a school such as a middle school, high
school, college, or university. For example, the supplemental
information may comprise multiple choice questions that pertain to
chapter-specific subject matter in a textbook that the user is
using.
[0020] After receiving the supplemental information, it is loaded
into a portable, study aid apparatus. In some embodiments, the
supplemental information may be transferred to a transferable
information storage medium such as a data cartridge. The data
cartridge can be inserted into the portable study aid apparatus to
load the supplemental information into the study aid apparatus.
[0021] A user then uses the portable, study aid apparatus to help
learn about subject matter in the textbook. When using the
portable, study aid apparatus, the supplemental information can be
presented to the user in audio and/or visual form. In some
embodiments, a speech synthesizer within the study aid apparatus
can ask the user a question that is simultaneously displayed on a
screen in the study aid apparatus. The dialog for the question may
be pre-recorded dialog. The question and other questions can be
used to test the user's understanding of the subject matter in a
textbook. The user can use the supplemental information to help
prepare for a future exam, or simply learn about subject matter in
a textbook.
[0022] In embodiments of the invention, the user of the portable,
study aid apparatus is typically a student such as a middle school
student (e.g., about ages 10-13, or about grades 6 to 8). The user
could also be a high-school student, college student, graduate
student, or even a student that is younger than a typical middle
school student.
[0023] The supplemental information may be any suitable information
that supplements a conventional printed textbook. Conventional
printed textbooks include those that are produced by such
well-known textbook publishers such as Houghton Mifflin,
McGraw-Hill, Harcourt and Prentice-Hall. Examples of supplemental
information include questions about the subject matter in a
specific chapter in a textbook, audio segments that may supplement
subject matter in a textbook, or visual segments that may
supplement printed subject matter in a textbook. For example,
images, video segments, or audio segments can be used to supplement
subject matter in a textbook. In a typical illustration, an audio
segment of a famous speech by a famous politician can be presented
to the user by the study aid apparatus to supplement text material
about the politician in a printed textbook. However, preferably,
the supplemental information comprises chapter-specific questions
(or other test material) analogous to those found at the end of
chapters in conventional printed textbooks. Examples of questions
include multiple choice questions, fill-in-the-blank questions,
true-false questions, and matching questions. In embodiments of the
invention, a set of such chapter-specific questions (e.g., 10 or
more) can be presented to the user in the form of a pop quiz or
chapter review. In other embodiments, the supplemental information
may include supplementary chapter outlines for the textbooks. Each
outline can cover key topics, definitions, concepts, and events
discussed in a textbook. These supplementary outlines (or other
supplemental information) can be printed along with downloaded
chapter questions with an appropriate computer and printer.
[0024] The printed textbooks and the supplemental information may
teach the user any suitable subject. Suitable subjects include
science (life, earth, and physical science), math (computational
skills, early algebra, geometry), social studies (U.S. and world
history, geography, anthropology), vocabulary, foreign languages,
grammar, language arts (e.g., English), music, etc. In embodiments
of the invention, a single study aid apparatus can be used to
provide supplemental information relating to many chapters in many
different types of textbooks to the user. For example, in some
embodiments, one study aid apparatus could contain supplemental
questions for different chapters in six textbooks for six different
courses being taken by the user.
[0025] Embodiments of the invention advantageously retain the
benefits of printed textbooks while addressing many of the
deficiencies of printed textbooks. For example, because pages of
questions can be electronically stored in the study aid apparatus,
a user does not have the ability to "peek" at the questions before
reading a chapter in a textbook. Accordingly, when the user is
presented with the questions, they are fresh and test the user's
true understanding of the subject matter in the textbook. Also, in
embodiments of the invention, the study aid apparatus can be
readily updated with questions that are timely and also interesting
to the user. For example, algebra problems that include fact
patterns pertaining to current, local sports teams or sports
figures could be presented to the user. In another example, the
study aid apparatus can present audio segments of current events to
the user to supplement textbooks for social studies courses.
Furthermore, in embodiments of the invention, sets of questions can
be downloaded from one or more server computers via the Internet.
The user can have access to literally hundreds or thousands of
questions for a textbook, instead of just a few questions.
Consequently, the user's ability to prepare for an upcoming exam is
not limited by the number of available questions. Lastly, in
embodiments of the invention, after reading a chapter in a
textbook, the study aid apparatus can automatically record the
user's score after presenting the user with a pop quiz (e.g., where
the user is quizzed to see how many randomized questions they can
correctly answer in a predetermined amount of time) or a chapter
challenge (e.g., where after selecting a subject such as math,
science, or social studies and a specific textbook chapter, the
user is asked a series of questions that can be answered in, for
example, a multiple choice format). After taking the pop quiz or
chapter challenge, the study aid apparatus may display the user's
score. If the user is not satisfied with the score, the user can
then re-review the chapter and take another pop quiz or chapter
challenge. Scores can be recorded over time and the user can track
any progress being made. Because the scores can be recorded
electronically in embodiments of the invention, the user need not
take the time to manually tabulate scores to determine if progress
is being made. Also, the pop quiz feature of the study aid
apparatus allows a user to simulate actual test conditions for a
test that the user may take in the future.
[0026] Embodiments of the invention provide fun and engaging ways
to teach subjects to the user and helps the user prepare for tests.
There is a need among students in particular, for an apparatus that
can help them learn what they are studying and how it is being
taught. By providing chapter specific content based on a printed
textbook used in the classroom, the study aid apparatus can help
the user learn what they need to know to perform well on tests and
quizzes.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a study aid apparatus 20
according to an embodiment of the invention. The study aid
apparatus 20 is a hand-held apparatus that is portable and is
preferably ergonomically shaped. Exemplary dimensions can be
4".times.6".times.1". Because the study aid apparatus 20 is
portable, it can be used by the user at any suitable location. For
example, the study aid apparatus 20 can be used while the user is
on a bus, waiting for a bus, at school (e.g., in the classroom or
in the cafeteria), at home, in the car, etc. To help grip the study
aid apparatus 20, a grippable plastic material 28 with ridges can
be included on the sides of the study aid apparatus 20. The
remaining body of the study aid apparatus may include a hard
plastic material. A better view of the grippable plastic material
28 is shown in FIG. 1(b).
[0028] The study aid apparatus 20 includes a number of input
devices. The input devices include an alphanumeric keyboard 30
wherein the letters are on buttons in a QWERTY format. Other
buttons include a Delete button 18 (to delete a question), a Repeat
button 10 (to repeat a presented question), and an Enter button 24.
A space bar 32 and a Menu button 12 are also included in the study
aid apparatus 20. Other input devices including on-off buttons (not
shown) and volume controls (not shown) may also be included in the
study aid apparatus 20. A directional input device 22 such as a
joystick, touchpad or a directional button can also be included in
the study aid apparatus 20 to move an element such as a cursor or
pointer displayed on an LCD screen 16 above the keyboard 30. One
can also scroll through choices in a menu using the directional
input device 22. Also, in some embodiments, a switchable faceplate
for the keyboard 30 may be provided to provide the user with a
different user interface.
[0029] In addition to the LCD screen 16, output devices such as a
speaker and an audio jack can also be provided in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1(a). These output devices could be located at side
regions of the study aid apparatus 20. For example, an audio jack
could be provided on the bottom side region of the apparatus 20
under the space bar 32.
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of some components of the study
aid apparatus. The study aid apparatus may comprise a processor 86
such as a microprocessor. A memory 90, an input device 92, a speech
synthesizer 82, an audio output device 84, and a display device 88
may each be coupled (directly or indirectly) to the processor 86.
Typically, power is supplied to the study aid apparatus using
standard disposable or rechargeable batteries (e.g., size AA
batteries). In addition, the study aid apparatus may include an
automatic shut off feature that shuts off the apparatus if the user
does not interact with it in a predetermined period of time.
[0031] Any suitable input device 92 may be included in the study
aid apparatus. For instance, one or more of buttons, levers, speech
recognition devices, alpha-numeric keypads, space-bars, etc. can be
included in the study aid apparatus. As noted above, one input
device can be a menu button that allows a user to choose a subject
area, or play mode of interest. A menu of options may be presented
to the user after the user presses the "menu" button. The user may
scroll through and/or select options using the directional input
device 22 and the Enter button 24. Another button that can be
provided on the interactive apparatus is a "repeat" button that the
user can press to cause the interactive apparatus to repeat the
question asked. An "enter" button can be provided for the user to
enter a selection. Also, a "delete" button can also be provided for
the user to delete a question. Buttons in the study aid apparatus
can be specifically designated to accomplish these functions.
[0032] The memory 90 may be any suitable temporary or permanent
information storage device. For example, the memory 90 may include
one or more of optical, magnetic, or electronic storage media such
as optical or magnetic disks, tapes, sticks, and the like. Storage
devices such as these may be used alone or in combination to make
up the memory 90. Any suitable number of RAM (random access
memory), ROM (read only memory) and EPROM (erasable programmable
memory) chips may also be included in the memory 90. In some
embodiments, the ROM can include a memory storage capacity of about
2 MB (megabytes) or more, although the storage capacity is likely
to change as data storage technology improves.
[0033] Since the study aid apparatus will typically be used by
students, computer code for a number of other features may be
desirably stored in the ROM or EPROM in the memory 90. For example,
software for a scheduler, games, address book, dictionary (e.g., a
Merriam-Webster.TM. Dictionary with over 40,000 entries),
calculator, and edit/spell-checker may be included in the study aid
apparatus. In addition, code for displaying e-mails (e.g., e-mail
reminders to the user or from the user's parents) may be included
so that the user can read e-mails on the study aid apparatus. Other
types of computer code or software such as text-to-speech converter
programs or code for music or playing music can be included in the
memory of the study aid apparatus. As another function, the study
aid apparatus may be capable of storing crib notes that the student
may use. Advantageously, the study aid apparatus embodiments have
many of the functions that a student needs in school. Accordingly,
the student can carry only one study aid apparatus to school
instead of multiple electronic devices.
[0034] The memory 90 can also store the supplemental information
for the user, before it is presented to the user. The supplemental
information may be temporarily stored in the memory 90, or it may
be included as non-volatile "base content" with the study aid
apparatus. For example, in some embodiments, the memory 90 can
store, temporarily or permanently, 1000 or more 6 to 8.sup.th grade
math, science, and social studies questions (questions
corresponding to other grade levels can also be used in embodiments
of the invention). The memory 90 may also have storage capacity
that stores more than eight minutes of speech or music.
[0035] The speech synthesizer 82 may be a separate speech
synthesizer chip or speech synthesizer circuitry that can be on the
same or different chip as the processor 86. Suitable speech
synthesizer chips are commercially available.
[0036] The audio output device 84 may include a speaker, or an
audio jack or connection for a headphone or an earphone. An audio
amplifier (not shown) may amplify any signals to the audio output
device 84. In some embodiments, the audio output device 84 may
include an audio jack. In these embodiments, a user can use
headphones so the user can listen to the supplemental information.
The supplemental information can be presented to the user when the
user is in a classroom, library, or on the bus, without disturbing
others in the user's vicinity.
[0037] The display device 88 can be any suitable device that can
display the supplemental information. Suitable display devices
include LEDs (light emitting diodes), LCD (liquid crystal
displays), etc. Appropriate driver programs and/or driver chips
(e.g., LCD driver chips) can be included in the study aid apparatus
to facilitate the function of the display device. For example, in
some embodiments, the display device may comprise an LCD screen
with 90.times.64 pixels with a font size of about 7.times.5 pixels.
Of course, the number of pixels and pixel sizes can vary in
embodiments of the invention.
[0038] The transferable information storage medium 80 may be in any
suitable form. For instance, the transferable information storage
medium 80 may be a cartridge (e.g., in a flash data cartridge), a
disk, a tape, or a memory stick. Cartridges are especially
desirable since they can be easily manipulated and handled by
children. Any suitable amount of storage space may be provided on
the transferable information storage medium. Preferably, the
capacity of the information storage medium is at least about 1
megabyte (e.g., 4 megabytes or more). The transferable information
storage medium 80 can be used to transfer information such as the
supplemental information, the user's performance information, and
code for operating the study aid apparatus to and from the memory
90 and the processor 86.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a system according to an embodiment of the
invention. The system includes a user site 120, a first host entity
site 100 and a second host entity site 130. The user site 120, the
first host entity site 100, and the second host entity site 130 may
be in communication with each other through a communication medium
107. One user site is shown for simplicity of illustration. It is
understood that there can be many user sites (or host entity sites)
in the system. Also, some or all of the components of the
illustrated system may be included in embodiments of the
invention.
[0040] The first host entity site 100 may include a first server
computer 105 with a Web site 116 through which the user can
register and request content packages. The first server computer
105 can have access to a content database 103, which can store
content such as chapter-specific textbook questions. A user
database 101 may also be accessed by, and may be coupled to the
first server computer 105.
[0041] The user database 101 can also include a file for each user
of the system. Each user file can show the textbook chapters
completed, previous quiz or self-test scores, and actual test
scores. Self-rated scores on real tests at school (e.g., poor,
okay, good, great) can also be stored in each user file. Each user
file can also include the user's basic information such as the
user's name, grade level, subject areas, current school, textbooks
used, etc. The user database 101 may also include the user's
profile, which may in turn include the user's personal preferences
and information about the user. Exemplary user profile information
may include information such the user's age, hobbies, address,
phone number, e-mail address, school, favorite subjects, relatives,
teachers, favorite songs, favorite sports, favorite foods, favorite
cartoons, etc. In some embodiments, the user database 101 may also
contain a schedule for the user. User schedule information (e.g., a
modified schedule) can be uploaded to the server computer and
stored in the user database 101.
[0042] Individuals such as teachers or parents may also store
information pertinent to the user in the user database 101. For
example, information such as actual test scores, grades, reminder
messages, questions, and supplemental information such as pictures
and text for textbooks may be uploaded and stored in the user
database 101. This information may reviewed by the user on the Web
site 116 or can be downloaded by the user for use in the study aid
apparatus.
[0043] The content database 103 may include the supplemental
information for the textbooks. Such supplemental information can be
included in a content package to be sent to the user. The
supplemental information may be in the form of static information
or dynamic information. For example, the supplemental information
may be in the form of sound files (e.g., .WAV files), video files,
applications, image files (e.g., JPEG files), or text files (e.g.,
ASCII type files). In some embodiments, the supplemental
information can be in the form of instructions to play code stored
in libraries in the memory of the study aid apparatus. Transferring
instructions to play code (e.g., MIDI-type code) over a
communication medium such as the Internet is faster than
transferring code for, for example, all words in an audio segment.
Specific types of supplemental information are described above.
[0044] The second host entity site 130 may be in communication with
both the first host entity site 100 and the user site 120. The
second host entity site 130 can also have a second server computer
131 with a Web site (not shown), and a content database 132. The
content database 132 operated by the second host entity also stores
supplemental information such as chapter-specific textbook
questions.
[0045] The second host entity may be, for example, the publisher of
a textbook that creates its own set of questions and other
supplemental information for its own textbooks, while the first
host entity may create its own questions for a textbook published
by another entity. The user may obtain supplemental information
from either the first host entity or the second host entity, and
therefore from either content database 103, 132, directly or
indirectly. For example, in some embodiments, the second host
entity can send questions in its content database 132 to the
content database 103 operated by the first host entity so that all
questions for the variety of textbooks used by all of the different
users can be accessed by the users at one Web site 116. This
reduces the burden on the users to search different Web sites for
the supplemental information.
[0046] At the user site 120, a client computer 109 such as a
personal computer can be operatively coupled to a linker device
111. The linker device 111 may be coupled to the client computer
109 through a wireless or a wired link (e.g., a cable). A study aid
apparatus 120 may be included in the system and may communicate
with the client computer 109 via the linker device 111. Once a
content package with supplemental information is loaded into the
study aid apparatus 113, it can be uncoupled from the linker device
111 and can be used independently.
[0047] The linker device 111 may be any suitable device capable of
transferring data between the client computer 109 and the study aid
apparatus 113. The linker device 111 could be, for example, a
wireless transceiver such as a wireless RF (radio frequency)
transceiver or an infrared transceiver. In preferred embodiments,
however, the linker device 111 is a device, which is capable of
reading information from, and writing information to, the
transferable information storage medium. In a typical embodiment,
the transferable information storage medium may be a cartridge,
which can be inserted into both the linker device 111 and the study
aid apparatus 113. Cartridges are desirable, since children are
familiar with using cartridges. For instance, many middle school
age children are used to using cartridges for video games.
[0048] The first server computer 106 includes computer code for a
Web site 116 and can be in operative communication with the client
computer 109 at the user's site 120. The Web pages of the Web site
116 may include any number of interactive features including any
suitable number of hyperlinks to help guide the user through the
Web site 116. The Web site 116 may also have a number of graphical
user interfaces for the user to input information such as his name,
grade, preferences, textbooks used, etc. into the system. A browser
on the client computer 109 permits the user or others to view the
Web site 116 and pages thereof. Examples of suitable browsers
include Internet Explorer.TM., which is commercially available from
Microsoft and Netscape Navigator.TM..
[0049] The server computers 105, 131 can each be a powerful
computer or cluster of computers. For example, each of the server
computers 105, 131 can be a large mainframe,a minicomputer cluster,
or a group of servers functioning as a unit. In one example, the
server computer may be a database server coupled to a Web server.
Moreover, each of the server computers 105, 131 can behave as a
single computer, which services the requests of one or more client
computers. Client computers, such as the client computer 109 can
communicate with the server computers 105, 131 through the Internet
and optionally through one or more Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) (not shown). Client computers typically have less memory and
less computing power than the server computers 105, 131.
[0050] The system, and especially the first server computer 105,
can include one or more computer programs, written in any suitable
computer language. For example, first, second, and third computer
programs used for performing three different functions can be
embodied in a single computer program having one or more
subroutines, or may be embodied by three separate and distinct
computer programs. In embodiments of the invention, for instance,
the first server computer 105 may have one or more computer
programs to: update the user's information in the user database
101, enter or retrieve supplemental information from the content
database 103, or send the supplemental information to the user.
[0051] The server computers 105, 131 and the client computer 109
communicate through a communication medium 107 such as the
Internet, and more particularly the World Wide Web (WWW). Typical
communication protocols used in the communication medium 107
include HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol) and TCP/IP (terminal
communication protocol/Internet protocol).
[0052] Although the user site 120 includes a study aid apparatus
113, some sites may include a client computer without a
corresponding study aid apparatus. For example, a teacher, a
parent, or other individual may contact the Web site 116 to view a
report relating to a user's performance, or may upload content such
as problems, questions, or facts to the Web site 116 so that the
content can be included in a content package for the user.
[0053] A method of using the system shown in FIG. 3 can be
described with reference to FIG. 4. First, using the client
computer 109, a user can contact the Web site 116 on the first
server computer 105 through the communication medium 107 (e.g., the
Internet). Once the user is viewing the Web site 116, the user can
register on the Web site 116 (step 102). In a typical registration
process, the user's name, grade level, subject areas being studied,
textbook information, school, teacher's names, etc. may be input
into appropriate Web pages on the Web site 116. The Web site 116
can also contain instructions for installation/setup and programs
such as scheduler programs.
[0054] In some embodiments, access to the Web site 116 and/or the
content in the content database 103 may be subject to a fee.
Accordingly, before or after registration, the user or the user's
parents may apply for a subscription to the Web site 116.
Subscriptions may be for a predetermined period of time (e.g., one
year). Once the user is registered, the user (or the user's
parents) can access the Web site 116 to obtain, for example, new
content on demand, score assessments, achievement certificates,
recommendations for prescriptive content packages, and personal
best scores.
[0055] After the user has registered on the Web site 116, the first
server computer 105 can create a content package for the user (step
104). The content package may include a set of chapter-specific
questions for each of the textbooks and for each of the chapters
that the user is currently using in school. In some embodiments,
the first server computer 105 may create the content package at the
direction of the user or another person such as a teacher or a
student. That is, the user or another person can select questions
or sets of questions for chapters and textbooks on the Web site 116
for inclusion in a content package. Alternatively, the first server
computer 105 can automatically select specific questions or a set
of questions for a content package. The server computer 105 can do
this knowing the particular chapter and textbook that the user is
current studying. Questions that have already been selected for the
user can be marked by the first server computer 105 so that they
are not selected for that user again.
[0056] After the content package is created, it is sent from the
first server computer 105 to the user's client computer 109 (step
106). For example, while visiting the Web site 116, the user can
cause the first server computer 105 to send the content package to
the user's e-mail account. Once the user accesses the e-mail
account, the user may download the content package from the e-mail
server. Alternatively, the user may download the content package
directly from the first server computer 105 while visiting the Web
site 116. In another example, the user can automatically send the
content package to the user without a specific prompt. For
instance, in some embodiments, the user database 101 and/or the
study aid apparatus 113 may contain a scheduler including the
user's study schedule for the school term. The scheduler may
contain the anticipated date that the user will be finished with a
particular chapter in a textbook. Using this information, the first
server computer 105 may automatically select a set of questions
pertinent to the chapter for user and send it to the user at about
the time the user is finished studying the chapter.
[0057] Although this example illustrates an embodiment where the
user can receive supplemental questions for a printed textbook
through a communication medium such as the Internet, the user can
receive the supplemental questions in other ways. For example, the
supplemental questions (or other supplemental information) can be
sold in computer readable media in stores and a user can go to the
stores to purchase the computer readable media. For example, the
user can purchase a rewritable or non-rewritable data cartridge
with questions for a textbook. Some cartridges may have over 1000
questions per cartridge. After purchasing, the user can use the
media with the supplemental information with the study aid
apparatus. However, the user preferably receives the supplemental
information for the study aid apparatus through a communication
medium such as the Internet.
[0058] In some embodiments, the transferable information storage
medium (e.g., data cartridge) with questions may be present with
the study aid apparatus as a kit. Accordingly, in these
embodiments, the kit may be obtained (e.g., purchased) by a user
and the user may use the study aid apparatus immediately, without
accessing the Internet. Additional supplemental information may be
obtained, for example, by purchasing transferable information media
in stores or by downloading new supplemental information from the
Internet.
[0059] Once the client computer 109 receives the content package,
the content package is loaded into the study aid apparatus (step
108). The linker device 111 may be used to accomplish this step.
For instance, in some embodiments, the content package can be
transferred from the client computer 109 to the linker device 111.
The linker device 111 can write computer code for the content
package on a data cartridge or other transferable information
storage medium (not shown). Once the content package is written
onto the data cartridge, the data cartridge can be removed by the
user and can be inserted into a slot in the study aid apparatus
113. A processor in the study aid apparatus 113 can then load the
content package into an internal memory or may access the content
package stored in the data cartridge.
[0060] After the content package is loaded into the study aid
apparatus 113, the user may use the study aid apparatus 113 in
conjunction with a printed textbook 117 (step 110). The printed
textbook 117 and the study aid apparatus 113 can be used at the
same or different location. Typically, the user will read a chapter
in the printed textbook 117. After reading the chapter, the user
may try and answer the questions at the end of the chapter to
determine if the user has understood the subject matter in the
chapter.
[0061] If the user is unsatisfied with the user's command of the
subject matter in the chapter, the user may then re-read the
chapter and can use the study aid apparatus 113 to test the user's
understanding of the subject matter in the re-read chapter. The
study aid apparatus 113 can present questions for the chapter to
the user in audio and also visual form. Illustratively, the chapter
that has just been studied by the user may be a chapter on
electricity in a middle school science textbook. Questions, such as
those shown in FIG. 5, may be presented to the user in both audio
and visual form by the study aid apparatus 113. If the display
device in the study aid apparatus 113 is small, fewer questions may
be displayed to the user than the number of questions shown in FIG.
5.
[0062] As shown in the upper right hand corner of FIG. 5, a score
window 200 may be displayed to the user at any suitable time during
the testing process. As shown, each question may be worth a certain
number of points. The number of points awarded for answering a
particular question correctly may depend on the complexity or
difficulty of the question. The score window 200 can show the
user's score after the user has completed each question or after
the user has completed a set of questions. By showing the user's
score to the user, the user can track the user's progress to see
if, for example, further review of the chapter is needed. In some
embodiments, the user's score information can be recorded in the
memory in the study aid apparatus 113, and then uploaded to the
first server computer 105. The user's score information can then be
stored in the user database 101 and the user's scores can be stored
in tabular or graphical form to show the user's progress over time.
Parents, teachers, or the user may view the progress information.
The first server computer 105 may also provide the user with an
assessment of the user's performance and may provide additional
prescriptive content for the user to use. Accordingly, in
embodiments of the invention, the study aid apparatus 113 can be in
two-way (or one-way) communication with the first server computer
105.
[0063] FIG. 6 shows a Web page on a Web site that can be used in an
embodiment of the invention. When visiting the Web site to download
new content for the study aid apparatus, the user may select: a
"Select Publisher" link 401, a "Select Textbook" link 402, a
"Choose Chapters" link 403, and/or a "Download-Print" link 404.
[0064] If the user chooses the "Select Publisher" link 401, the
user can select a particular subject by selecting a subject link
410. The subject links 410 may be selected by the user to select a
particular subject. The user may use the grade link 412 to indicate
which grade the user is in, and may also use the publisher link 414
to select the particular publisher of the textbook that the user is
using. In this example, the subject links 410, the grade links 412,
and the publisher links 414, are in the form of drop-down menus.
They could be in the form of other types of links such as static
links.
[0065] The Web page in FIG. 6 also includes a "Continue" button 422
to continue to the next Web page. It also includes a "View Past
Activity Packs" button 420. If the user selects this button, the
user can see what content packages the user previously
downloaded.
[0066] Once the user has filled in the appropriate information on
the Web page, the user may select the "Select Textbook" link 402 to
select the exact textbooks that the user is using, and then can
select the "Choose Chapters" link 403 to select the particular
chapters that the user is currently studying.
[0067] Once all information about specific textbooks and chapters
from one or more different subjects is input into the Web site, the
user can download a content package or "activity pack" with, for
example, supplemental questions for the textbooks by selecting the
"Download-Print" link 404. The user can also download and print
chapter outlines of the selected chapters at the user's location by
selecting the "Download-Print" link 404. Accordingly, in
embodiments of the invention, a user can download a specific
content package with chapter specific questions or other
information pertaining to various subjects.
[0068] While on the Web site, the user may also obtain a progress
report. The progress report can give the user feedback such as the
subjects and skills reviewed, the next steps for recommending other
activity packs, and the time spent using the study aid
apparatus.
[0069] The terms and expressions which have been employed herein
are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there
is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of
excluding equivalents of the features shown and described, or
portions thereof, it being recognized that various modifications
are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Moreover,
any one or more features of any embodiment of the invention may be
combined with any one or more other features of any other
embodiment of the invention, without departing from the scope of
the invention. For example, any feature of the study aid apparatus
may be combined with any feature of the system shown in, for
example, FIG. 3 without departing from the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *