U.S. patent application number 15/200124 was filed with the patent office on 2016-10-27 for inexpensive computer-aided learning methods and apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is IpLearn, LLC. Invention is credited to John P. Del Favero, JR., Chi Fai Ho, Peter P. Tong.
Application Number | 20160314551 15/200124 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37767693 |
Filed Date | 2016-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160314551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ho; Chi Fai ; et
al. |
October 27, 2016 |
INEXPENSIVE COMPUTER-AIDED LEARNING METHODS AND APPARATUS
Abstract
A computer-aided learning method and apparatus to learn
materials. In one embodiment, the apparatus retrieves a user
identifier entered by the user, and determines whether the user is
a learning user or an institute user. If the user is a learning
user, the apparatus allows the user to access information regarding
learning materials, which could be a project for the user. Not only
does the apparatus provide the user the freedom as to where and
when to learn, and the guidance as to what to learn, the user does
not have to pay. If the user is an institute user, the apparatus
permits the user to learn materials regarding at least one learning
user. The institute user might be interested to use the apparatus
to recruit employees to fill job openings. The apparatus can also
track and update information regarding the users.
Inventors: |
Ho; Chi Fai; (Palo Alto,
CA) ; Del Favero, JR.; John P.; (Menlo Park, CA)
; Tong; Peter P.; (Mountain View, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IpLearn, LLC |
Mountain View |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
37767693 |
Appl. No.: |
15/200124 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11586307 |
Oct 26, 2006 |
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15200124 |
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10692274 |
Oct 22, 2003 |
7201580 |
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11586307 |
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10113225 |
Mar 30, 2002 |
6685478 |
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10692274 |
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09290770 |
Apr 13, 1999 |
6398556 |
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10113225 |
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09273392 |
Mar 22, 1999 |
6213780 |
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09290770 |
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09110569 |
Jul 6, 1998 |
6126448 |
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09273392 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 7/00 20130101; G06Q
10/06313 20130101; G09B 7/02 20130101; G06Q 30/0269 20130101; G06F
16/24 20190101; G09B 5/12 20130101; G06Q 50/20 20130101; G09B 5/00
20130101; G09B 19/00 20130101; G06Q 30/0255 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 50/20 20060101
G06Q050/20; G06Q 10/06 20060101 G06Q010/06; G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A computing apparatus comprising: a first computing device; and
a networked storage device accessible at least via a network, the
networked storage device coupled to the first computing device, and
the networked storage device to have stored thereon instructions
that, when executed, cause the apparatus to: receive, via a web
server, a web request from a user using a second computing device
to access a first set of materials via a network that includes the
Internet, the web request including a user identifier identifying
the user, and a service identifier at least indicating to access
the first set of materials, wherein the first set of materials
includes materials on a first project for the user; track at least
some of the user's usage of the first set of materials, including
accessing the first set of materials; and receive, via a web
server, a web request from a first entity using a third computing
device to access information regarding the tracked user's usage of
the first set of materials, via a network that includes the
Internet, the web request including a user identifier identifying
the first entity, and a service identifier at least indicating to
access the information regarding the tracked user's usage of the
first set of materials; wherein the instructions, when executed,
further cause the apparatus to: search for materials related to the
first project to extract materials for the user; send the extracted
materials related to the first project via a network that includes
the Internet, to the second computing device to be presented; and
cause the generating of an accounting record to charge the first
entity so as to allow the first entity to access at least some of
the information regarding the tracked user's usage of the first set
of materials.
2. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the first
project is a project the user is working on.
3. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein at least
some of the materials to be searched include documents that are
categorized, and wherein to search for materials includes to search
the categorized documents to extract more than one of the
categorized documents, and wherein at least some of the extracted
categorized documents are organized based on one or more rules to
prioritize them to be presented to the user.
4. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the
extracted materials include materials generated by a person on a
second project, which is different from but related to the first
project.
5. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein the first
project has a first identifier, and the second project has a second
identifier, which is different from the first identifier.
6. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the
instructions, when executed, cause the apparatus to search for the
second project depends on using at least a rule relating the first
identifier and the second identifier.
7. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein to search
for materials includes to search for the second identifier.
8. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the second
project includes a description in addition to the second
identifier, and wherein to search for materials includes to search
the description.
9. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein to search
for materials includes to search based on time.
10. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein to search
for materials includes to search based on a location of the
user.
11. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the user is
an employee of the entity, and the entity is a company.
12. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the user is
a student, not an employee of the entity, and the entity is a
school.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/586,307, filed on Oct. 26, 2006, entitled "Computer-Aided
Learning Methods and Apparatus on Projects," which application is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/692,274, filed
on Oct. 22, 2003, and subsequently issued on Apr. 10, 2007, as U.S.
Pat. No. 7,201,580, entitled "Inexpensive computer-aided learning
methods and apparatus for learners," which application claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/113,225, filed on
Mar. 30, 2002, and subsequently issued on Feb. 3, 2004, as U.S.
Pat. No. 6,685,478, entitled "Inexpensive computer-aided learning
methods and apparatus for learners," which application claims
priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/290,770, filed on
Apr. 13, 1999, and subsequently issued on Jun. 4, 2002, as U.S.
Pat. No. 6,398,556, entitled "Inexpensive computer-aided learning
methods and apparatus for learners," which application is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/110,569, filed on Jul. 6, 1998 and subsequently issued on Oct.
3, 2000, as U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,448, entitled "Computer-Aided
Learning And Counseling Methods And Apparatus For A Job;" and U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/273,392, filed on Mar. 22, 1999, and
subsequently issued on Apr. 10, 2001, as U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,780,
entitled "Computer-aided learning and counseling methods and
apparatus for a job"; all incorporated by reference into this
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to computer-aided learning
methods and apparatus, and more particularly to inexpensive
computer-aided learning methods and apparatus on projects.
[0003] We are living in the midst of tremendous technological
changes. In the workplace, technology is replacing numerous
workers. Many of our job skills might become obsolete within years.
Though technology is permeating gradually into every stratum of the
society, it is very hard to keep up with so much changes.
[0004] Not only is it hard to keep up, technology has made the
world much smaller, and global competition much more intense. Not
only facing global competition, we are also challenged by the
younger generation. Many of them have access to computers and the
Web at a very young age. They might be much more effective and
efficient than the older generation in performing computer-oriented
jobs.
[0005] Drastic and rapid changes in the economy lead to massive
re-deployment of the labor force. Due to technology revolutions in
the industrial nations, and social upheaval in many third-world
countries, every year, thousands of job titles with their job
functions are being eliminated. Numerous industries experience
massive layoffs, which are usually more geared towards the older
and higher-paid employees. This problem is exacerbated by the aging
of the population when employers tend to retain the younger work
force, with more current education. Many employees are in
transition. They need jobs. Such global challenges are not limited
to the private industries. Millions of civil service employees and
military personnel have to be re-trained.
[0006] Employees have to learn. However, employees may not have
time to learn. Computer-aided learning alleviates some of the
problem because learning from a computer at least allows users to
learn at their own pace and, to a certain degree, in a location
more convenient to them. But, computer-aided learning is a new
medium of learning, not accustomed to by many. To ask them to pay a
high tuition to learn through a new medium is unreasonable.
Moreover, many may not be accustomed to learn while working. They
assume that they have finished with all of their learning at
schools. Also, for the numerous employees-in-transition, they may
not be interested to pay to learn at all.
[0007] From the employers' perspective, they need to stay
competitive. Employers have to produce good products and services
at reasonable prices. With competition from so many directions,
employers have to constantly re-train their employees and recruit
new ones. It is also not uncommon for employers to lay off some of
them.
[0008] It is a constant challenge for employers to decide whom to
hire. Just as employees need to learn about new job skills,
employers need to learn about the strengths, weaknesses and
preferences of their employees or potential employees.
[0009] It should be apparent that there is a need to automatically
provide appropriate learning materials in an inexpensive and easily
accessible manner to employees, while providing information about
potential employees to employers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides computer-aided learning
methods and apparatus to learn materials.
[0011] In one embodiment, a computer-aided learning system can
provide users with learning materials in an easily accessible
manner, significantly increasing their freedom to choose when and
where to learn. The learning materials can also be quickly updated.
In view of the drastic technological and societal changes, it is
imperative that learning materials have to constantly keep pace
with the changes.
[0012] On the other hand, learning through a computer has at least
one major challenge. It is a relatively new approach to learning.
Since many assume that they have done with all of their learning at
schools, and are skeptical to anything that is not traditional,
they are not interested in paying a lot of money to learn from a
computer.
[0013] Though many do not want to pay a lot to learn from
computers, computer-aided learning materials are not cheap to
produce. It is difficult to prepare good computer-aided learning
materials that not only can capture our attention, but also teach
effectively. Companies that have invested heavily in producing
these materials are not about to sell them inexpensively. They need
to recoup their investment.
[0014] Drastic technological and society changes require companies
to transform themselves to stay competitive. They need to find
people to do new jobs. Hiring the right employee is a critical
success factor for many employers. Many companies are willing to
pay at least 20% of the first annual income of their new hires to
recruiters because recruiters save them time in finding and
pre-screening candidates. Also, good recruiters know their
candidates, and are able to provide companies with valuable
information on them. Typically, companies have a better chance of
making the right hiring decision if they have more information on a
candidate.
[0015] New computer-aided learning systems and methods can provide
a lot of learning information regarding a user, as taught in a
number of issued patents, such as Learning System And Method Based
on Review, U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,208; Methods and Apparatus To Assess
And Enhance A Student's Understanding In A Subject, U.S. Pat. No.
5,779,486; Relationship-Based Computer-Aided Educational System,
U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,951; Reward Enriched Learning System And
Method, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,746; and Learning Method And System
Based on Questioning, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,771.
[0016] Information on users' learning activities is very useful for
employers because they provide indication on many factors,
including what the users know and their preferences. Many companies
are willing to pay for such information.
[0017] In view of the above observations and insights, in one
embodiment, the invented methods and apparatus provide inexpensive
computer-aided learning materials to users to work on, which could
be projects for the users. Such users can be known as learning
users. Though the materials can be of high quality and can be
specifically tailored to the needs of the users, the learning users
do not have to pay to learn from the materials. The costs of the
learning materials and the services providing them are
predominantly paid for by employers or institute users. In return,
the institute users are allowed to access information regarding the
learning users. The information can help institute users recruit
the right people for their job openings, such as based on
information from the learning activities of potential
employees.
[0018] In one embodiment, there are at least two types of users:
Learning users and institute users. An institute user can be a
representative from a company, or can be a software agent from the
company. An apparatus is configured to retrieve a user identifier
entered by a user, and determine the type of user based on the
identifier.
[0019] If the user is a learning user, the apparatus allows the
user to access information regarding learning materials. The
apparatus can track the user's learning activities and update the
user's profile accordingly.
[0020] If the user is an institute user, the apparatus allows the
user to access information regarding at least one learning user. As
the institute user is querying information, the apparatus can track
the institute user's activities and keep a log of its use. If the
institute user is interested in recruiting, the apparatus may
automatically perform the best match between attributes of the
potential candidate for the job and attributes of the users in its
database. In yet another embodiment, the institute user may also
use the present invention to conduct in-house training for its
employees.
[0021] To encourage learning users to learn, they do not have to
pay much to learn. If possible, money should not be a factor that
deters users to learn from the apparatus. On the other hand,
institute users have to pay significantly more than the learning
users to access information from the apparatus. In one embodiment,
it is free for the learning users to access information regarding
learning materials, which could be projects for the users, but
institute users have to pay to access information regarding
learning users from the apparatus.
[0022] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, which,
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
illustrates by way of example the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows one set of steps to implement one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows an apparatus to implement one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0025] FIG. 3 shows examples of different types of users for the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows examples of attributes of the learning user in
the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows examples of tracking attributes of the learning
user in the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows examples of interests of the institute users in
the present invention.
[0029] FIGS. 7 A-B show examples of hardware to implement one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0030] Same numerals in FIGS. 1-7 are assigned to similar elements
in all the figures. Embodiments of the invention are discussed
below with reference to FIGS. 1-7. However, those skilled in the
art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given
herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as
the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] There are a number of ways to implement the present
invention. FIG. 1 shows one set of steps, 100, to implement one
such embodiment by, for example, an apparatus shown in FIG. 2,
while FIG. 3 shows examples of different types of users using the
apparatus. There can be other types of users, such as system
administrators, but only two are shown in FIG. 3.
[0032] In one embodiment, there are at least two types of users:
Those who are primarily interested to use the apparatus 200 to work
on learning materials, and they are known as the learning users,
252; and those who are primarily interested in learning about the
learning users, and they are known as the institute user, 254. In
another embodiment, if the user is primarily interested in finding
a job or in career counseling, the user would be classified as a
learning user. In yet another embodiment, a learning user is not
allowed to access the learning activities of other learning users
through the apparatus. In one embodiment, a learning user is not
allowed to access the learning end results of other learning users
through the apparatus. Learning end results can be defined as the
end results of learning a subject matter, such as the grade one
gets after finishing a course, or whether one has received a
certificate or graduated from a course.
[0033] An institute user, 254, can be a school, 256, or a company,
258; or a representative from a school or a company. Each user has
its own user identification, which can be a number that identifies
the user.
[0034] A retriever 202 retrieves (Step 102) the user identifier 250
entered by the user into the apparatus. In one embodiment, the user
is a first time user, and the apparatus 200 asks the user a number
of questions. Based on the answers, the apparatus creates a user
profile of the user, which contains information regarding the
user.
[0035] Initially, for example, the user may be asked if he is a
primarily interested to work on learning materials. If his answer
is yes, he would be classified as a learning user. If his answer is
no, he would be classified as an institute user.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows examples of information or attributes regarding
a learning user, 300. One attribute is his contact information,
302, such as his residential address, phone number and email
address.
[0037] Another attribute is his educational background 304,
including his year(s) of graduation, degree(s) obtained and name(s)
of school(s). The educational background can also include his
previous learning history, such as classes he took, when he took
them and whether he received graduation certificates or not.
[0038] Another attribute is his work experience 306, including his
previous job title(s), 308, and previous job(s) performed, 310,
such as the type of projects, and when they were done. Such
questions can be presented as multiple choice questions for the
user to pick an answer.
[0039] Another attribute can be his preferences, 312, including
salary, 314, location, 316, time, 318, and job 320. The location
preference includes his preferred work location, such as working
two days from home, and three days at a location within a 50 miles
radius from home. The location preference can also include his
preferred learning location. The time preference includes his
preferred work hours, such as from 9 am to 5 pm, or willingness to
work overtime every other workday during the workweek. The time
preference, 318, can also include his preferred learning time, such
as at night after 6 pm. The job preference, 320, includes the type
of job he is interested in, such as to be a Web master.
[0040] Another attribute can be his learning objective, 322,
including what he wants to learn. The learning objective, 322, can
be determined for him, based on, for example, his job preference,
educational background and previous work experience. This will be
further explained below.
[0041] Other additional attributes include his name. The user may
be asked to scan in his picture, which can be a JPEG file.
[0042] It can be up to the user to decide if he wants to enter some
of the above information, such as his picture, into his user
profile. Also, certain information in his profile can be kept
confidential if the user desires. For example, the apparatus can
maintain his contact information confidential, restricting
institute users from gaining access, unless permitted by the
learning user otherwise.
[0043] In one embodiment, information about the learning user can
be categorized as confidential and non-confidential. Institute
users have access to non-confidential information, but confidential
information is not accessible without express consent from the
learning user. When the learning user is entering information into
the apparatus, he can also designate them as confidential or
non-confidential.
[0044] In another embodiment, the user is not a first time user. He
enters his user identifier into the apparatus. The retriever 202
retrieves the user identifier entered for a determinator 204 to
determine (Step 104) its type. In this example, the user is a
learning user, 252, and is allowed (Step 106) access to learning
materials. The learning materials can be in a learning materials
storage medium, 206, which may be accessible through a network,
such as the World Wide Web.
[0045] In one embodiment, a learning material ascertainer, 208,
ascertains learning materials for the learning user, 252. The
ascertainer can ascertain a learning objective for the user, which
depends on information regarding the user.
[0046] The ascertainer can identify the objective or learning
materials based on applying a set of rules to, for example, the
user's educational background, work experience and preferences. The
user's work experience provides indications on his experience and
knowledge in specific areas. As an example, if he spends a lot of
time on a project, the ascertainer infers that he understands the
project, and the subject areas behind the project. This implies
that he does not need to work on introductory materials in those
areas. To illustrate, the ascertainer can consider the amount of
time to train an average user with similar educational background
as the user for a job the user prefers. If a recent computer
science graduate needs to take a two-semester class to become an
average Java programmer, and if the user has been working on C++
projects for the past five years, the ascertainer would decide that
he only needs to take a one-semester class with less introductory
materials to become an average Java programmer. Another example is
that the preferred job is to be a patent paralegal. The user has
been a general paralegal for the last six years, but does not
understand the procedures of patent prosecution. Then the learning
objective would be to learn such procedures in the next nine
months.
[0047] Based on the ascertained learning objective, the ascertainer
could also select for the user, or guide the user to, learning
materials to prepare the user for the job position. For example,
the objective is to learn how to speak introductory Spanish in six
months. The ascertainer can then select the place and the time to
learn, or can identify the computer-based training classes
available for her to learn. The identification process can be based
on key words. As another example, the learning objective is to
learn how to write fictions. Then, the ascertainer, based on words
such as write and fictions, searches the learning material storage
medium or other resources for learning materials whose titles have
the same two key words.
[0048] In one embodiment, the ascertainer directly identifies
learning materials for the user, without first identifying his
learning objective.
[0049] One embodiment includes a presenter, 210, for presenting the
ascertained learning materials to the user.
[0050] The learning user's information, including his usage of the
apparatus, 200, can be tracked by the apparatus, 200. One
embodiment includes a tracker 212 to track the user's information
or attributes (Step 108), and an updater 214 to update (Step 110)
the user's profile, such as his learning profile, based on the
tracked information. In one embodiment, tracking includes
analyzing, and the tracked information includes analyzed
information.
[0051] FIG. 5 shows examples of attributes or information regarding
the user that the tracker 212 can track. They include the user's
contact information, 302, work experience, 306, and preferences
312. As the user logs into the apparatus, 200, the apparatus can
ask the user if he has recently changed anyone of the above
attributes to keep track of his progress and interests. If he has,
the updater 214 can update the user profiles accordingly. In one
embodiment, the user can access and change his profile
directly.
[0052] The tracker can also track the user's learning activities,
350. This can include the classes he has received certificates from
after graduation, 352; the degree he received; the duration of time
it took him to get the certification or the degree, 354; and his
performance, if available. The learning activities can also include
the frequencies he worked on an area, 356.
[0053] Rules can be applied to such tracked information to provide
additional information regarding the user, such as indication as to
the user's understanding level in an area. For example, if an
average user takes one month to finish the course, and he needs a
much longer time period, such as three months, probably, he is weak
in that subject. Another example is that if he works on an area
repeatedly, probably, he is quite weak in that area.
[0054] The learning activities can also include the areas, 358, he
has not worked on. For example, he is using the apparatus to learn
features in a new product, 368, of a company. It turns out that he
has never worked one specific feature the company believes
customers really value. This might provide indication to the
company as to the importance of that feature.
[0055] The information tracked, either by themselves or after
analysis, can be provided to the updater 214 to update information
regarding the user, such as updating his profile previously stored.
For example, he has received a certificate from a company after he
finished the training program offered by the company on its new
product. His user profile can be updated by such information. As
another example, if the analyzed result is that he is strong in
fixing engines, such information is stored in his user profile. In
one embodiment, with his permission, institute users are allowed
access to such information.
[0056] The tracking and updating processes can be for billing and
accounting purposes. What is accountable can include, for example,
the amount of time spent on the apparatus. Based on the tracked and
updated information, records can be generated to create invoices
for the learning user.
[0057] The user can be an institute user, 254. The determinator 204
can allow the user to access information regarding at least one
learning user (Step 112), such as using a query engine, 212, to
query information regarding the at least one learning user. The
institute user can also query her own profile.
[0058] FIG. 6 shows examples of interests, 400, of the institute
user. The tracker 212 can track (Step 114) her attributes,
including her usage of the apparatus; and an updater, 214, can
update (Step 116) her profile, 216, if necessary.
[0059] She might be interested in recruiting, 402, candidates to
join her institute. She can query users' profiles to access
information regarding learning users. Information of interests can
include some of his learning activities, such as the certificate
received after working on a subject matter; the frequency a
candidate changed jobs; his job preferences; his previous work
experience; and his physical location.
[0060] In one embodiment, the institute user can access at least
some learning activities of learning users. The extent of
activities the institute user can access can be up to individual
learning users. For example, one learning user may allow the
institute user free access of all of its learning activities; and
another learning user may restrict the institute user from
accessing the titles of the courses he failed.
[0061] The institute user can query the system, by asking
questions. Methods for a system to comprehend and to answer
questions can be found, for example, in U.S. patent, entitled,
Learning Method And System Based on Questioning, U.S. Pat. No.
5,836,771.
[0062] In another embodiment, she can answer multiple choice
questions from the apparatus to formulate her request. She can
specify characteristics of her ideal candidate. Based on her
specifications, the query engine 212 can automatically search and
identify the one or more candidates with best-matched profiles with
the characteristics of the ideal candidate. In another embodiment,
based on her answers, software agents configured by her or the
query engine, can be generated to search the user profile database
automatically for a number candidates that best match her requests.
The agents or searches can be automatically activated due to
changes in information of the institute user, or changes in
information of certain learning users. Criteria of searches can be
automatically updated in view of such changes before the query
engine automatically launches the appropriate search. For example,
the institute user might have to find two such candidates instead
of one. Such updates and searches can be done daily or weekly.
[0063] The apparatus can further establish contact between the
institute user and the one or more candidates identified. For
example, initially, the candidates identified by the searches do
not have to include their name, but just their qualifications. In
one embodiment, if the institute user is interested in one or more
of the candidates identified, she can highlight those candidates.
The apparatus would have general information regarding the position
transmitted to the candidates. An interested candidate can have his
identity revealed to the institute user, again through the
apparatus. With the candidate's permission, his picture can also be
transmitted to the institute user. Then the apparatus can have the
institute user's identity with a more detailed description of the
job position transmitted to the candidate, and can set up an
initial interview for the candidate.
[0064] The tracker 212 can track a number of the institute user's
recruiting activities, such as (i) the number of candidates she
identified to be potential candidates, (ii) the number of
candidates referred to her, and (iii) the number of queries she
did, and the time she did each of them. The updater 214 can update
her profile based on the tracked information. This can be for
setting up billing and accounting records. Such records can be used
to create invoices for the institute user.
[0065] The institute user might be interested in advertising, 404,
her job opening to be filled, or her product, which can be a
service. The apparatus includes an advertisement generator, which
allows her to advertise. In one embodiment, the generator formats
the advertisement provided by the user, based on instructions from
the user. For example, the user might specify the size of the
advertisement, and its location. The advertisement can be targeted
directly to specific users, 405, interested in her institute, such
as interested in her products, or her type of jobs. This can be
done, for example, by showing the advertisement on the screen of
the learning materials related to the institute, such as related to
the products or the type of jobs. In one embodiment, the
advertisement is only presented to learning users. In another
embodiment, the advertisement can be restricted from being
presented to other institute users that sell products similar to
the institute user, or are in the same field or industry sector as
the institute user. As an example, the institute user is in home
construction, and her advertisement of recruiting construction
workers will not be presented to other home construction institute
users.
[0066] The tracker 212 can track the size of the advertisement, the
location the advertisement to be placed, the number of
advertisements posted, and the duration of the postings. The
tracker can also track the number of times the page with her
advertisement has been accessed. The updater can update information
of the institute user based on the tracked information. Then, the
information regarding learning users the institute can access
includes the number of times her advertisement has been shown to
learning users.
[0067] She might want to use the apparatus as technical supports
for her products, by providing appropriate training, 407, for them.
She might also want to identify interests, 406, in her new
products. In one embodiment, she can provide learning materials
regarding her new products to the apparatus for users to learn. For
example, her new product is a handheld machine. Learning users can
use the apparatus to learn how to use the many features of the
machine. The tracker tracks the usage of the learning users. The
institute user has built into the machine a feature X and a feature
Y that typical users have to learn before they know how to use
them. The institute user thinks that feature X is dynamic, and none
of their competitors have such a feature; and feature Y should be
quite easy to use. However, less than 1% of the users have learnt
how to use feature X. Also, 90% of learning users have difficulties
learning how to use feature Y, as shown, for example, by the same
learning users going back to learn feature Y more than three times.
Such information regarding learning users can be tracked to provide
market information on (learning users' interests in) the machine
back to the institute user. The institute user can use such market
information to help them improve on their next release. For
example, probably for the next generation handheld machine, feature
X should be dropped, and the user-friendliness aspect of feature Y
should be enhanced. One way to feed the learning users' interests
back to the institute user is by updating the institute user
profile with such information.
[0068] Her interest might be to train her employees, 408, such as
by providing in-house training for them. She can also get training
herself through accessing learning materials. For example, she is a
project supervisor using the apparatus to learn new techniques in
HDSL installation, and to hire a person for ISDN installation. In
one embodiment, she can be both an institute user and a learning
user by having two different user identifiers.
[0069] She might be interested in updating her information or
profile, 410, or accessing them, 412. The tracker can track the
number of times she accessed or updated her profile, and the
updater can update such user information accordingly.
[0070] To encourage learning users to work on learning materials,
in one embodiment, they pay significantly less than institute users
to access information from the apparatus. For example, institute
users pay much more to query information from the apparatus than
learning users to access learning materials from the apparatus. In
one embodiment, learning users are paying significantly less when
the annual payment or annual subscription fee of a learning user is
less than 1/500 times of that of an institute user.
[0071] In another embodiment, a learning user is paying
significantly less when it is free for the learning user to access
information from the apparatus, while the institute user has to
pay. The learning user does not have to pay the owner of the
apparatus 200 or the provider of the method, 100, to access
information, but the institute user has to.
[0072] In yet another embodiment, a learning user is paying
significantly less when the learning user is paying approximately
the per capita cost of operating the apparatus, and the institute
user is paying above the per capita cost of operating the
apparatus. One definition of per capita cost is the total expense
of operating the apparatus divided by the total number of learning
and institute users of the apparatus.
[0073] In one embodiment, a learning user is paying significantly
less when the learning user is paying below the per capita cost of
operating the apparatus, and the institute user is paying above the
per capita cost of operating the apparatus.
[0074] FIGS. 7A-B show examples of hardware to implement one
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows one physical
embodiment 650 implementing one embodiment of the invention,
preferably in software and hardware. The embodiment 650 includes a
server computer 652 and a number of client computers, such as 654,
which can be a personal computer. Each client computer communicates
to the server computer 652 through a dedicated communication link,
or a computer network 656.
[0075] FIG. 7B shows one embodiment of a client computer 654. It
typically includes a bus 659 connecting a number of components,
such as a processing unit 660, a main memory 662, an I/O controller
664, a peripheral controller 666, a graphics adapter 668, a circuit
board 680 and a network interface adapter 670. The I/O controller
664 is connected to components, such as a harddisk drive 672 or a
floppy disk drive 674. The peripheral controller 666 can be
connected to one or more peripheral components, such as a keyboard
676 or a pointing device 682. The graphics adapter 668 can be
connected to a monitor 678. The circuit board 680 can be coupled to
audio signals 681; and the network interface adapter 670 can be
connected to the network 656, which can be the Internet, an
intranet, the Web or other forms of networks. The processing unit
660 can be an application specific chip. In another embodiment, the
client computer 654 is a thin-client, with much less computation
and memory power than the server computer, 652.
[0076] Different elements in the present invention may be in
different physical components. For example, the apparatus may be in
a client computer. In another embodiment, the apparatus is in a
client computer, except the learning materials storage medium,
which is in a server computer. In yet another embodiment, the
server computer also hosts a storage medium with the user profiles,
216. In one embodiment, the apparatus is in the server computer,
except the presenter, which is in the client computer. The user
receives information accessed from the client computer.
[0077] It should be obvious to those skilled in the art that
different elements in the present invention can be implemented in
hardware or software or both. For example, the determinator and the
query engine can be written in software, or can be on a circuit,
such as a field-programmable-gate-array, where the program
embodying the determinator and the query engine is burnt into a
circuit. As another example, a processing unit 660 can implement
the determinator; a main memory 662 can store the user profile; the
same or a different processing unit can implement the retriever and
the query engine; and the same main memory or a different memory
can store the learning material storage medium.
[0078] One embodiment of the present invention can be implemented
in a Web server. The server includes a HTTP server or program that
understands HTTP or equivalent protocol. Just as an example, the
name of the server is www.joblearn.com.
[0079] A user executes his browser in his computer to access
learning materials by entering an URL, such as the following:
[0080]
http://www.joblearn.com/job/user=tassels&subject?vendor=microsoft&p-
roduct=excel
[0081] From the URL, the browser determines that the protocol to
use is HTTP. The browser also determines that the data packets are
constructed based on the TCP format to establish a connection with
the Web server, as specified by the HTTP protocol.
[0082] The browser then extracts the name of the Web server from
the second component of the URL--www.joblearn.com--and attempts to
establish a connection to the server.
[0083] To establish the connection, the browser can identify the IP
address of the server. For example, the browser may retrieve the IP
address from a domain name server.
[0084] Based on the IP address, the browser sends a request to the
Web server to establish a TCP connection with the HTTP program
running on the server. This can be through establishing the
connection to the server with the default TCP port number, 80, for
the HTTP program.
[0085] After the Web server receives and accepts the request, the
browser transmits to the Web server other portions of the URL--
[0086]
job/user=tassels&subject?vendor=microsoft&product=excel.
[0087] The Web server examines them, and invokes a program named
job. Assume that previously a Web master has configured the Web
server to identify the term, job, at that part of the URL as an
indication of invoking an embodiment of the present invention. The
Web server also determines that the remaining portions of the URL
is a CGI script. To simplify the description, instead of stating
that the program, job, does a certain task, the description states
that the Web server does the task.
[0088] The script indicates that the user is identified as tassels.
Based on information previously stored, the Web server, based on
the program, job, determines the identifier belong to a learning
user. The Web server further determines that tassels intends to
learn Microsoft Corporation's product Excel. Appropriate learning
materials are then re-transmitted back to the browser to be
presented to the learner.
[0089] In the above example, information is accessed through a HTTP
server. Other commonly available accessing mechanisms are also
applicable, such as JDBC or CORBA.
[0090] In addition to learning, the user may be asked to update
changes in his profile, such as changes in his learning objectives.
For example, he has changed his interest, and presently, he wants
to learn how to build a house. Based on his availability,
appropriate classes and/or learning materials are directed to
him.
[0091] The Web server can also track his progress as he is
learning. In this example, assume that classes are available
through his computer. The server can perform a number of tracking
tasks. For example, the Web server can mark the screen he looks at
before he logs off from the server; the Web server can keep track
of the duration of time for him to finish the course; and the
server can keep track of whether or not he has graduated from the
course. His user profile can be updated by such tracked information
and analyzed data. Also, such information regarding the learning
user can be accessed by institute users.
[0092] In another example, assume that the user is an institute
user who may be interested in generating an advertisement on the
Web server. As an example, a Web page generated by the Web server
for an institute user includes a dialog box with an advertising
button. Clicking that button by the institute user brings up an
advertising file upload page, which can include questions, such as
the size of the advertisement, the location, the pricing structure,
and the time to post the advertisement. The location can specify
the area on a typical screen, and the subject matter the screen is
displaying. The user also can attach to the file, her advertisement
clip, which can be a html page, a Java applet, an audio stream,
animated streaming data, such as a video stream or a multimedia
stream, or other file formats, or some combination of the above.
The video stream or multimedia stream may be compressed by standard
algorithms, such as based on MPEG format. The advertisement clip
can be used as a banner and can be linked to learning materials
related to the products sold by the institute user. When such
learning materials are shown on a screen, the advertisement banner
will be shown also. Through the institute user's browser, he can
upload the file with the attachment clip to the Web server. In one
embodiment, the advertisement clip can be hypertext-linked to the
institute user's home page.
[0093] The Web server can monitor the number of hits on the page
with the advertisement, or the number of times the clip or the
advertisement was accessed. The Web server can also monitor the
number times the institute's own home page has been
hypertext-linked. Such information can be stored as information
regarding the corresponding users accessing the clip or linking to
the institute user's home page. If the users are learning users,
such information can be considered as information regarding the
learning users. Also, such information can be stored in the
institute user profile area.
[0094] The institute user may like to change its advertisement on
the Web server. In one embodiment, she is allowed to modify the
scripts for the Java applet or the html page. She may be allowed to
generate a modified clip to be uploaded to the Web server.
[0095] The institute user may be interested in accessing her
profile to determine the number of hits on the clip. Statistics,
such as the type of users accessing that clip, can also be stored
in the profile area of the institute user.
[0096] The usage by the institute user with the results can be
tracked, and stored in the institute user profile area.
[0097] Using a Web server to host the apparatus or a part of the
apparatus, 200, can make economic sense. The price of developing
the apparatus, or a portion of the apparatus, 200, on a Web server
and maintaining it may cost a few million dollars. However, once
developed, many users can access information through it from many
places and at any time. If the learning users do not have to pay
much to learn from it, one main obstacle of learning--tuition--is
removed. Not only can the server (a) give the learning users the
freedom to choose when, and in many occasions, where to learn, and
(b) guide the users to the appropriate learning materials to fill
their individual needs, learning from the server is also relatively
inexpensive. Many more will learn and benefit from the invention.
This will enrich them, help their career and, ultimately, help
their employers and the society.
[0098] From another perspective, with many people learning from the
server, a large database of information regarding learning users
can be created. Many institute users are interested in the server
in view of the large database of information regarding learning
users, and the heavy traffic by those users. Institute users are
interested for many different reasons. For example, they might want
to use it to hire employees. For companies to succeed, they need
the right employees, and they are willing to pay recruiters to get
them. As an illustration, assume a company hires 25 employees per
year from the server, and the average annual income with benefit of
the 25 employees is $50,000. The company normally pays at least 20%
of the annual income to recruiters. This translates to paying the
recruiters $250,000 per year.
[0099] In additional to recruiting, the company can use the server
to advertise their products and their jobs to users interested in
them. Those users can be easily identified by, for example, the
learning materials they work on, and their preferences as shown in
their user profiles.
[0100] The company may also want to use the server to support their
products. This can be done by having learning materials regarding
their products available for learning users of the server.
[0101] The company can also use the server as to find out users'
interest in their products. With learning materials on the products
at the server, the company can measure users' interest in different
features of the products by identifying how often materials
regarding different features are being accessed, as discussed
above.
[0102] Thus, institute users are willing to make reasonable
payments to use the server. They are probably willing to pay much
higher than what learning users are willing to pay. The institute
users might even prefer to provide learning users with free access
to the server. This is because the institute users are interested
in lots of information regarding learning users, and a lot of
traffic through the server.
[0103] In one embodiment, a learning material ascertainer or a
learning determinator, in determining whether learning materials
should be presented to a user, decides on the documents a search
engine should search for among cataloged documents. As an example,
the user is a software test engineer, and the learning determinator
decides that learning materials on performance test specification
of an ATM networking software program should be presented to her.
The search engine in the learning determinator identifies all of
the documents related to such test specifications under the
category of performance test specification and extracts them from a
database.
[0104] As an illustration, the company of the user does not have
any performance test specification of an ATM networking software
program. Then, the search engine can identify related documents
based on one or more rules. One set of such rules may be
relationship rules, which group related terms, such as related
jobs, together. In one approach, if the search engine has to search
for any one term, the search engine automatically searches for all
of its related terms. For example, the term, frame relay, is
related to the term, ATM. One relationship rule groups the two
terms together. Although the company does not have any documents on
a performance test specification of a ATM networking software
program, the company has such documents for frame relay. Based on
the relationship rule, the search engine also searches for
documents on performance test specifications of frame relay
software. Such documents are identified, and extracted for the
user.
[0105] Note that cataloging the documents reduces the amount of
searching required. However, it is not necessary to catalog the
documents before they can be searched. One embodiment does not
include a catalog builder and cataloged documents. Searching can be
performed directly on all of the documents in the database. In this
embodiment, searching can be based on key-words, including the job
titles or the job position. The query can be based on the job
description, which describes, for example, the type of work
involved in the job.
[0106] After the documents are extracted, they can be organized for
presentation. There can be different rules to organize extracted
documents in the company. In one embodiment, organization includes
prioritizing the extracted documents, so that, for example, higher
priority documents can be presented before lower priority
documents.
[0107] The documents can be organized based on the company
information, which can be information not available to the public.
For example, the company information includes document chronology,
document version, the person generating the document, and a user
profile.
[0108] As mentioned, one rule to organize is based on the
chronology of the extracted documents. For example, documents that
were recently created have higher priority than those created long
time ago.
[0109] Another rule is based on the versions of the documents. It
is typical to have a number of iterations before the final document
is produced. Each iteration can be a version. One organization rule
is to rank the older versions with higher priority, and to present
them before the newer versions. Such a rule helps the user
understand the process to get to the final document.
[0110] The identity of the person generating the documents can be
used for an organization rule. For example, if the originator is
the user, the document has a low priority.
[0111] Another rule includes information in the user profile, such
as the user's job position. For example, a document is related to
more than one job position. One rule can be that such a document is
of lower priority as compared to a document that is related only to
the user's job position. One or more of such rules help organize
the extracted documents.
[0112] Through learning from the presented materials, the user can
produce her own documents, which can be used as structured
documents in the database. As an illustration, after learning
materials are presented by a presenter to the user, she does her
job with the help of a generator. This can be her word processor,
simulator, or the like. For example, she starts to write the
performance test specification of the ATM networking software
program. As she does her job, at least one such document is
generated, such as a version of the performance test specification.
That document is stored in a document database. Usually she will
generate, through the generator, many versions. In one embodiment,
all of these versions are stored.
[0113] In one embodiment, the documents created by the user are
automatically cataloged. For example, the profile of the user can
be in the apparatus with the learning determinator, and the job the
user is performing can also be in the apparatus. Based on such
information, the one or more documents generated can be
automatically categorized. For example, the documents generated by
the user in the above example can be classified under the category
of performance test specifications, and can be stored as such
cataloged documents. Next time when another user needs to learn
about a performance test specification, there will be one more set
of documents to present to him. As stated above, the set of
documents may have many versions. The search engine may limit the
number of versions to be extracted, and an organizer coupled to the
search engine may determine the priority of those extracted
documents to be presented to the other user.
[0114] In one embodiment, the extracted documents can fit into
specific templates. In one embodiment, a template can shape an
extracted document when the document was created, or can describe
or identify the shape of the extracted document. Every document
with the same template can include identical text or formatting
that is based on the template. Such text or formatting can be the
style of the documents or can include macros, which can be modules,
where each module can denote many operations. For example, in one
set of extracted documents, the template is for the company's
annual report; then the template includes sections covering the
company's revenue, cash flow, balance sheet and forecast.
[0115] The catalog builder can group the structured documents in
the database under different categories. The documents grouped or
categorized can be known as cataloged documents. In one embodiment,
the catalog builder builds the catalog based on the organization
chart, or the linked job titles of the company. In another
embodiment, categories in the catalog is similar to nodes in the
organization chart, or the linked job titles of the company; for
example, each category in the catalog corresponding to a job
position or a job title. In another embodiment, a job position can
be linked to more than one category. In yet another embodiment, at
least a part of the catalog is built based on key words in the
documents, or templates used in the documents.
[0116] The catalog can be reduced in size. In one embodiment, one
specific catalog also depends on at least one characteristic of the
profile of the user. It can be called a personalized catalog. For
example, only categories related to the user's job position are
included in this specific catalog. So, in one example, only
categories for the user's job position, the user's direct
superiors' position and the job positions of the peers of the user
are included. This specific catalog can be much smaller than the
catalog describing all of the company's job positions.
[0117] The catalog builder can also be responsible to reference
each document by, or group each document to, its corresponding one
or more categories. In one embodiment, each document, in addition
to its content, also includes one or more attributes describing the
document. These attributes are information regarding the document.
But, unlike the content the document, these attributes typically
are information that do not have to be directly conveyed to the
user receiving the document, before the user can learn from the
document. For example, attributes can include the name of the
person who creates the document, the job she was doing when she
created the document, its version, and the identification of the
document's template, if there is one. Note that the document can be
received by the user, so if she wants to, she can decipher the
document to get the attributes.
[0118] The document categorizing process can depend on at least one
of the document's attributes. For example, if the user is an
architect, and she has created a design of a building, then the
attributes of the document holding the design can include her job
title. Based on the job title, the document can be grouped to,
categorized to or referenced by the category of an architect in a
catalog. In another example, the shape or format of a document can
be described by a template. That template fits into a category of a
catalog. Then that document can be referenced by that category,
which can be related to a specific job.
[0119] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification or
practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with
the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *
References