U.S. patent application number 16/170642 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-28 for braille generator and converter.
The applicant listed for this patent is Pearson Education, Inc.. Invention is credited to Samuel Sean Dooley.
Application Number | 20190066536 16/170642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58282870 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190066536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dooley; Samuel Sean |
February 28, 2019 |
BRAILLE GENERATOR AND CONVERTER
Abstract
Techniques described herein relate to generating braille output
and/or visual display output based on received mathematical
expression input. Data corresponding to one or more mathematical
expressions may be received via expression input devices or visual
display devices, and may be converted to braille output characters
for display on refreshable braille devices. Additionally,
mathematical expression input data may be received via refreshable
braille display devices and converted to output characters for
display on visual display devices. In some embodiments,
mathematical expression input data may be converted first to
content markup, and then converted from the content markup to
presentation markup and/or braille output characters. Further
mathematical expression input data, such as updates to previously
displayed expressions, may be received from an initial input
device, visual display device, or refreshable braille device, and
the updated expression data may be converted to visual output
characters and/or braille output characters.
Inventors: |
Dooley; Samuel Sean;
(Albuquerque, NM) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pearson Education, Inc. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58282870 |
Appl. No.: |
16/170642 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14856860 |
Sep 17, 2015 |
10140887 |
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16170642 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 9/08 20130101; G09B
21/005 20130101; G09B 21/003 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G09B 21/00 20060101
G09B021/00 |
Claims
1. A braille generator and converter system comprising: one or more
refreshable braille display devices, each refreshable braille
display device comprising: a plurality of electromechanical braille
cells, each electromechanical braille cell comprising a plurality
of output dots configured to raise and lower in response to
voltages applied at the electromechanical braille cell; a
processing unit comprising one or more processors; and memory
coupled with and readable by the processing unit and storing
therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the
processing unit, causes the refreshable braille display device to:
receive data corresponding to one or more braille output math
characters; determine an electromechanical braille cell for
displaying each of the braille output math characters; and transmit
control instructions to each of the determined electromechanical
braille cells to display the one or more braille output math
characters; one or more visual presentation and expression input
devices, comprising: an I/O subsystem configured to receive
mathematical expression input data via one or more input devices
integrated into or connected with the expression input device; a
processing unit comprising one or more processors; and memory
coupled with and readable by the processing unit and storing
therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the
processing unit, causes the visual presentation and expression
input device to: receive math input data via the I/O subsystem
corresponding to a mathematical expression; and transmit data
representing the mathematical expression to an expression
converter; and the expression converter, the expression converter
comprising: a processing unit comprising one or more processors;
and memory coupled with and readable by the processing unit and
storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the
processing unit, causes the expression converter to: initiate a
multi-user interactive math computing session including at least
one of the refreshable braille display devices and at least one of
the visual presentation and expression input devices; receive
initial math input data corresponding to a mathematical expression,
during the multi-user interactive math computing session; receive a
plurality of single-character revisions to the mathematical
expression during the multi-user interactive math computing
session, including at least a first single-character revision
received as braille math input from at least one of the refreshable
braille display devices, and a second single-character revision
received as presentation markup math input from at least one of the
visual presentation and expression input devices; and in response
to each of the plurality of single-character revisions to the
mathematical expression received during the multi-user interactive
math computing session: (a) determining an input data type of the
received single-character revision to the mathematical expression;
(b) selecting a set of conversion rules for converting the revised
mathematical expression to MathML, from a plurality of sets of
conversion rules stored by the expression converter, based on the
determined input data type; (c) converting the revised mathematical
expression incorporating the single-character revision into a
revised mathematical markup language (MathML) of the mathematical
expression, using the selected set of conversion rules; (d)
converting the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into
one or more output math formats comprising at least one of braille
math output or presentation markup math output; and (e)
transmitting the revised mathematical expression, converted into
the one or more output math formats, to one or more output devices
including at least one of the refreshable braille display devices
or at least one of the visual presentation and expression input
devices.
2. The braille generator and converter system of claim 1, wherein
in response to at least one of the plurality of single-character
revisions to the mathematical expression received during the
multi-user interactive math computing session, (d) comprises
converting the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into
braille math output, using a set of data conversion rules for
MathML to braille math output includes a plurality of braille
encoding rules that do not correspond to character mapping
rules.
3. The braille generator and converter system of claim 2, wherein
converting the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into
braille math output comprises using at least one braille encoding
rule calling for a multipurpose indicator braille symbol, and
wherein the set of braille output characters includes a first
braille symbol corresponding to a fraction indicator and a second
braille symbol corresponding to a nested fraction indicator.
4. The braille generator and converter system of claim 2, wherein
converting the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into
the braille math output characters, using the set of data
conversion rules for MathML to braille math output comprises:
applying character mapping rules to the MathML representation of
the mathematical expression, to generate a corresponding string of
braille characters; analyzing the generated string of braille
characters to detect one or more predetermined characters patterns;
and using the at least one braille encoding rule that does not
correspond to a character mapping rule, to convert the one or more
predetermined characters patterns in the generated string of
braille characters
5. The braille generator and converter system of claim 4, wherein
detecting the one or more predetermined characters patterns, and
using the at least one braille encoding rule that does not
correspond to a character mapping rule to convert the predetermined
characters patterns comprises: determining that two consecutive
characters in the generated string of braille characters correspond
to a single mathematical symbol; and inserting a designated
indicator braille character in between the two consecutive
characters, in response to determining that the two consecutive
characters correspond to a single mathematical symbol.
6. The braille generator and converter system of claim 2, wherein
converting the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into
the braille math output characters, using the set of data
conversion rules for MathML to braille math output comprises:
identifying a first character corresponding to a subscript or
superscript character in the MathML representation of the
mathematical expression, and a second character in the MathML
representation of the mathematical expression to which the first
subscript or superscript character applies; determining that the
first subscript or superscript character is an integer; and based
on the determination that the first subscript or superscript
character is an integer, applying an abbreviated braille encoding
rule by which the first character, the second character, and the
relationship between the first character and the second character
is represented by only two braille characters.
7. The braille generator and converter system of claim 1, wherein
for each of the plurality of single-character revisions to the
mathematical expression received during the multi-user interactive
math computing session, steps (a)-(e) are performed in real-time in
response to receiving the single-character revision to the
mathematical expression.
8. A method, comprising: initiating, by an expression converter, a
multi-user interactive math computing session including at least
one refreshable braille display device and at least one visual
presentation device; receiving, by the expression converter,
initial math input data corresponding to a mathematical expression,
during the multi-user interactive math computing session;
receiving, by the expression converter, a plurality of
single-character revisions to the mathematical expression during
the multi-user interactive math computing session, including at
least a first single-character revision received as braille math
input from the at least one refreshable braille display device, and
a second single-character revision received as presentation markup
math input from the at least one visual presentation device; and in
response to each of the plurality of single-character revisions to
the mathematical expression received during the multi-user
interactive math computing session: (a) determining an input data
type of the received single-character revision to the mathematical
expression; (b) selecting a set of conversion rules for converting
the revised mathematical expression to MathML, from a plurality of
sets of conversion rules stored by the expression converter, based
on the determined input data type; (c) converting the revised
mathematical expression incorporating the single-character revision
into a revised mathematical markup language (MathML) of the
mathematical expression, using the selected set of conversion
rules; (d) converting the revised MathML of the mathematical
expression into one or more output math formats comprising at least
one of braille math output or presentation markup math output; and
(e) transmitting the revised mathematical expression, converted
into the one or more output math formats, to one or more output
devices including at least one of the visual presentation devices
or at least one refreshable braille display devices.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein in response to at least one of
the plurality of single-character revisions to the mathematical
expression received during the multi-user interactive math
computing session, (d) comprises converting the revised MathML of
the mathematical expression into braille math output, using a set
of data conversion rules for MathML to braille math output includes
a plurality of braille encoding rules that do not correspond to
character mapping rules.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein converting the revised MathML of
the mathematical expression into braille math output comprises
using at least one braille encoding rule calling for a multipurpose
indicator braille symbol, and wherein the set of braille output
characters includes a first braille symbol corresponding to a
fraction indicator and a second braille symbol corresponding to a
nested fraction indicator.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein converting the revised MathML of
the mathematical expression into the braille math output
characters, using the set of data conversion rules for MathML to
braille math output comprises: applying character mapping rules to
the MathML representation of the mathematical expression, to
generate a corresponding string of braille characters; analyzing
the generated string of braille characters to detect one or more
predetermined characters patterns; and using the at least one
braille encoding rule that does not correspond to a character
mapping rule, to convert the one or more predetermined characters
patterns in the generated string of braille characters
12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the one or more
predetermined characters patterns, and using the at least one
braille encoding rule that does not correspond to a character
mapping rule to convert the predetermined characters patterns
comprises: determining that two consecutive characters in the
generated string of braille characters correspond to a single
mathematical symbol; and inserting a designated indicator braille
character in between the two consecutive characters, in response to
determining that the two consecutive characters correspond to a
single mathematical symbol.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein converting the revised MathML of
the mathematical expression into the braille math output
characters, using the set of data conversion rules for MathML to
braille math output comprises: identifying a first character
corresponding to a subscript or superscript character in the MathML
representation of the mathematical expression, and a second
character in the MathML representation of the mathematical
expression to which the first subscript or superscript character
applies; determining that the first subscript or superscript
character is an integer; and based on the determination that the
first subscript or superscript character is an integer, applying an
abbreviated braille encoding rule by which the first character, the
second character, and the relationship between the first character
and the second character is represented by only two braille
characters.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein for each of the plurality of
single-character revisions to the mathematical expression received
during the multi-user interactive math computing session, steps
(a)-(e) are performed in real-time in response to receiving the
single-character revision to the mathematical expression.
15. A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a
non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including
instructions configured to cause one or more data processors to
perform actions including: initiating a multi-user interactive math
computing session including at least one refreshable braille
display device and at least one visual presentation device;
receiving initial math input data corresponding to a mathematical
expression, during the multi-user interactive math computing
session; receiving a plurality of single-character revisions to the
mathematical expression during the multi-user interactive math
computing session, including at least a first single-character
revision received as braille math input from the at least one
refreshable braille display device, and a second single-character
revision received as presentation markup math input from the at
least one visual presentation device; and in response to each of
the plurality of single-character revisions to the mathematical
expression received during the multi-user interactive math
computing session: (a) determining an input data type of the
received single-character revision to the mathematical expression;
(b) selecting a set of conversion rules for converting the revised
mathematical expression to MathML, from a plurality of sets of
conversion rules, based on the determined input data type; (c)
converting the revised mathematical expression incorporating the
single-character revision into a revised mathematical markup
language (MathML) of the mathematical expression, using the
selected set of conversion rules; (d) converting the revised MathML
of the mathematical expression into one or more output math formats
comprising at least one of braille math output or presentation
markup math output; and (e) transmitting the revised mathematical
expression, converted into the one or more output math formats, to
one or more output devices including at least one of the visual
presentation devices or at least one refreshable braille display
devices.
16. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein in response
to at least one of the plurality of single-character revisions to
the mathematical expression received during the multi-user
interactive math computing session, (d) comprises converting the
revised MathML of the mathematical expression into braille math
output, using a set of data conversion rules for MathML to braille
math output includes a plurality of braille encoding rules that do
not correspond to character mapping rules.
17. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein converting
the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into braille math
output comprises using at least one braille encoding rule calling
for a multipurpose indicator braille symbol, and wherein the set of
braille output characters includes a first braille symbol
corresponding to a fraction indicator and a second braille symbol
corresponding to a nested fraction indicator.
18. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein converting
the revised MathML of the mathematical expression into the braille
math output characters, using the set of data conversion rules for
MathML to braille math output comprises: applying character mapping
rules to the MathML representation of the mathematical expression,
to generate a corresponding string of braille characters; analyzing
the generated string of braille characters to detect one or more
predetermined characters patterns; and using the at least one
braille encoding rule that does not correspond to a character
mapping rule, to convert the one or more predetermined characters
patterns in the generated string of braille characters
19. The computer-program product of claim 18, wherein detecting the
one or more predetermined characters patterns, and using the at
least one braille encoding rule that does not correspond to a
character mapping rule to convert the predetermined characters
patterns comprises: determining that two consecutive characters in
the generated string of braille characters correspond to a single
mathematical symbol; and inserting a designated indicator braille
character in between the two consecutive characters, in response to
determining that the two consecutive characters correspond to a
single mathematical symbol.
20. The computer-program product of claim 15, wherein for each of
the plurality of single-character revisions to the mathematical
expression received during the multi-user interactive math
computing session, steps (a)-(e) are performed in real-time in
response to receiving the single-character revision to the
mathematical expression.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/856,860, filed on Sep. 17, 2015, and
entitled "BRAILLE GENERATOR AND CONVERTER," the entirety of which
is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A number of computing devices and technologies are available
for visually impaired users who are unable to read monitors and
other visual display screens. For example, refreshable braille
display devices may include a number of electromechanical braille
cells having output pins that may be raised or lowered to form
braille characters. Such devices also may include braille keyboards
to allow for braille readers to input data. Additional devices used
by visually impaired users may include devices having microphones
and voice recognition and control functionality for receiving
input, as well as device speakers and speech synthesizers for
generating audio rather than visual output.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0003] Various techniques are described herein for generating
visual display output and/or braille output based on received
mathematical expression input. In certain embodiments, data
corresponding to one or more mathematical expressions may be
received via expression input devices or visual display devices,
and may be converted to braille output characters for display on
one or more refreshable braille devices. Additionally, mathematical
expression input data may be received via one or more refreshable
braille display devices and converted to output characters for
display on visual display devices. In some embodiments,
mathematical expression input data may be converted first to
content markup, and then converted from the content markup to
presentation markup and/or braille output characters. Further
mathematical expression input data, such as updates to previously
displayed expressions, may be received from an initial input
device, visual display device, or refreshable braille device, and
the updated expression data may be converted to visual output
characters and/or braille output characters.
[0004] In certain techniques described herein, at least four
separate data converters and/or conversion processes may be
supported to perform four separate expression conversions,
including a mathematical expression input to content markup
converter and/or conversion process, a braille character input to
content markup converter and/or conversion process, a content
markup to braille output character converter and/or conversion
process, and/or a content markup to presentation markup converter
and/or conversion process. In some embodiments, each mathematical
expression converter and/or conversion process may use separate
sets of conversion rules, including character mapping rules as well
as various special encoding and decoding rules for mathematical
expressions. Additionally, in certain embodiments, some or all of
the converters and/or conversion processes may be initiated in
real-time or near real-time in response to receiving a
single-character input or revision to a mathematical expression
from a visual display device or a refreshable braille terminal. The
implementation of these embodiments and other embodiments described
herein may provide support for multi-user viewing, editing, and
other collaborative work involving mathematical expression data,
where such multi-user collaboration may occur simultaneously and
without expression ambiguity, for combinations of sighted users
interacting via visual display devices and visually impaired users
interacting via refreshable braille display devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing illustrating an example of
a content distribution network.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computer server and
computing environment within a content distribution network.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of one
or more data store servers within a content distribution
network.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of one
or more content management servers within a content distribution
network.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the physical and
logical components of a special-purpose computer device within a
content distribution network.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example system for
converting and generating braille mathematical expression output
and visual mathematical expression output, according to one or more
embodiments of the disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process of
converting mathematical expression data received from an input
device to braille output and/or visual display output, according to
one or more embodiments of the disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process of
converting mathematical expression input data received from a
braille device to braille output and/or visual display output,
according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process of
converting mathematical expression input data received from a
visual display device to braille output and/or visual display
output, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.
[0014] FIGS. 10A and 10B show samples of content markup and
presentation markup representing an example mathematical
expression, according to one or more embodiments of the
disclosure.
[0015] FIGS. 11A and 11B show samples of content markup and
presentation markup representing another example mathematical
expression, according to one or more embodiments of the
disclosure.
[0016] FIGS. 12, 13, and 14A-14C show various examples of visually
displayed mathematical expressions along with corresponding braille
output, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.
[0017] In the appended figures, similar components and/or features
may have the same reference label. Further, various compo of the
same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by
a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar
components. If only the first reference label is used in the
specification, the description is applicable to any one of the
similar components having the same first reference label
irrespective of the second reference label.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The ensuing description provides illustrative embodiment(s)
only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of
the illustrative embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the
art with an enabling description for implementing a preferred
exemplary embodiment. It is understood that various changes can be
made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing
from the spirit and scope as set forth in the appended claims.
[0019] Various techniques (e.g., systems, methods, computer-program
products tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable
storage medium, etc.) are described herein for generating visual
display output and/or braille output based on received mathematical
expression input. In certain examples described herein, data
corresponding to one or more mathematical expressions may be
received via expression input devices or visual display devices,
and may be converted to braille output characters for display on a
refreshable braille device. Additionally, mathematical expression
input data may be received via one or more refreshable braille
display devices and converted to output characters for display on
visual display devices. In some embodiments, mathematical
expression input data may be converted first to content markup, and
then converted from the content markup to presentation markup
and/or braille output characters. Further mathematical expression
input data, such as updates to previously displayed expressions,
may be received from an initial input device, visual display
device, or refreshable braille device, and the updated expression
data may be converted to visual output characters and/or braille
output characters.
[0020] In accordance with certain techniques described herein, at
least four separate data converters and/or conversion processes may
be supported to perform four separate expression conversions,
including a mathematical expression input to content markup
converter and/or conversion process, a braille character input to
content markup converter and/or conversion process, a content
markup to braille output character converter and/or conversion
process, and/or a content markup to presentation markup converter
and/or conversion process. In some embodiments, each mathematical
expression converter and/or conversion process may use separate
sets of conversion rules, including various special encoding and
decoding rules for mathematical expressions that do not correspond
to character mapping rules. Additionally, in certain embodiments,
some or all of the converters and/or conversion processes may be
initiated in real-time or near real-time in response to receiving a
single-character input or revision to a mathematical expression
from a visual display device or a refreshable braille terminal. The
implementation of these embodiments and other embodiments described
herein may provide support for multi-user viewing, editing, and
other collaborative work involving mathematical expression data,
where such multi-user collaboration may occur simultaneously and
without expression ambiguity, for combinations of sighted users
interacting via visual display devices and visually impaired users
interacting via refreshable braille display devices.
[0021] With reference now to FIG. 1, a block diagram is shown
illustrating various components of a content distribution network
(CDN) 100 which implements and supports certain embodiments and
features described herein. Content distribution network 100 may
include one or more content management servers 102. As discussed
below in more detail, content management servers 102 may be any
desired type of server including, for example, a rack server, a
tower server, a miniature server, a blade server, a mini rack
server, a mobile server, an ultra-dense server, a super server, or
the like, and may include various hardware components, for example,
a motherboard, a processing units, memory systems, hard drives,
network interfaces, power supplies, etc. Content management server
102 may include one or more server farms, clusters, or any other
appropriate arrangement and/or combination or computer servers.
Content management server 102 may act according to stored
instructions located in a memory subsystem of the server 102, and
may run an operating system, including any commercially available
server operating system and/or any other operating systems
discussed herein.
[0022] The content distribution network 100 may include one or more
data store servers 104, such as database servers and file-based
storage systems. Data stores 104 may comprise stored data relevant
to the functions of the content distribution network 100.
Illustrative examples of data stores 104 that may be maintained in
certain embodiments of the content distribution network 100 are
described below in reference to FIG. 3. In some embodiments,
multiple data stores may reside on a single server 104, either
using the same storage components of server 104 or using different
physical storage components to assure data security and integrity
between data stores. In other embodiments, each data store may have
a separate dedicated data store server 104.
[0023] Content distribution network 100 also may include one or
more user devices 106 and/or supervisor devices 110. User devices
106 and supervisor devices 110 may display content received via the
content distribution network 100, and may support various types of
user interactions with the content. User devices 106 and supervisor
devices 110 may include mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet
computers, personal digital assistants, and wearable computing
devices. Such mobile devices may run a variety of mobile operating
systems, and may be enabled for Internet, e-mail, short message
service (SMS), Bluetooth.RTM., mobile radio-frequency
identification (M-RFID), and/or other communication protocols.
Other user devices 106 and supervisor devices 110 may be general
purpose personal computers or special-purpose computing devices
including, by way of example, personal computers, laptop computers,
workstation computers, projection devices, and interactive room
display systems. Additionally, user devices 106 and supervisor
devices 110 may be any other electronic devices, such as
thin-client computers, Internet-enabled gaming systems, business or
home appliances, and/or personal messaging devices, capable of
communicating over network(s) 120.
[0024] In different contexts of content distribution networks 100,
user devices 106 and supervisor devices 110 may correspond to
different types of specialized devices, for example, student
devices and teacher devices in an educational network, employee
devices and presentation devices in a company network, different
gaming devices in a gaming network, etc. In some embodiments, user
devices 106 and supervisor devices 110 may operate in the same
physical location 107, such as a classroom or conference room. In
such cases, the devices may contain components that support direct
communications with other nearby devices, such as a wireless
transceivers and wireless communications interfaces, Ethernet
sockets or other Local Area Network (LAN) interfaces, etc. In other
implementations, the user devices 106 and supervisor devices 110
need not be used at the same location 107, but may be used in
remote geographic locations in which each user device 106 and
supervisor device 110 may use security features and/or specialized
hardware (e.g., hardware-accelerated SSL and HTTPS, WS-Security,
firewalls, etc.) to communicate with the content management server
102 and/or other remotely located user devices 106. Additionally,
different user devices 106 and supervisor devices 110 may be
assigned different designated roles, such as presenter devices,
teacher devices, administrator devices, or the like, and in such
cases the different devices may be provided with additional
hardware and/or software components to provide content and support
user capabilities not available to the other devices.
[0025] The content distribution network 100 also may include a
privacy server 108 that maintains private user information at the
privacy server 108 while using applications or services hosted on
other servers. For example, the privacy server 108 may be used to
maintain private data of a user within one jurisdiction even though
the user is accessing an application hosted on a server (e.g., the
content management server 102) located outside the jurisdiction. In
such cases, the privacy server 108 may intercept communications
between a user device 106 or supervisor device 110 and other
devices that include private user information. The privacy server
108 may create a token or identifier that does not disclose the
private information and may use the token or identifier when
communicating with the other servers and systems, instead of using
the user's private information.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the content management server 102
may be in communication with one or more additional servers, such
as a content server 112, a user data server 112, and/or an
administrator server 116. Each of these servers may include some or
all of the same physical and logical components as the content
management server(s) 102, and in some cases, the hardware and
software components of these servers 112-116 may be incorporated
into the content management server(s) 102, rather than being
implemented as separate computer servers.
[0027] Content server 112 may include hardware and software
components to generate, store, and maintain the content resources
for distribution to user devices 106 and other devices in the
network 100. For example, in content distribution networks 100 used
for professional training and educational purposes, content server
112 may include data stores of training materials, presentations,
interactive programs and simulations, course models, course
outlines, and various training interfaces that correspond to
different materials and/or different types of user devices 106. In
content distribution networks 100 used for media distribution,
interactive gaming, and the like, a content server 112 may include
media content files such as music, movies, television programming,
games, and advertisements.
[0028] User data server 114 may include hardware and software
components that store and process data for multiple users relating
to each user's activities and usage of the content distribution
network 100. For example, the content management server 102 may
record and track each user's system usage, including their user
device 106, content resources accessed, and interactions with other
user devices 106. This data may be stored and processed by the user
data server 114, to support user tracking and analysis features.
For instance, in the professional training and educational
contexts, the user data server 114 may store and analyze each
user's training materials viewed, presentations attended, courses
completed, interactions, evaluation results, and the like. The user
data server 114 may also include a repository for user-generated
material, such as evaluations and tests completed by users, and
documents and assignments prepared by users. In the context of
media distribution and interactive gaming, the user data server 114
may store and process resource access data for multiple users
(e.g., content titles accessed, access times, data usage amounts,
gaming histories, user devices and device types, etc.).
[0029] Administrator server 116 may include hardware and software
components to initiate various administrative functions at the
content management server 102 and other components within the
content distribution network 100. For example, the administrator
server 116 may monitor device status and performance for the
various servers, data stores, and/or user devices 106 in the
content distribution network 100. When necessary, the administrator
server 116 may add or remove devices from the network 100, and
perform device maintenance such as providing software updates to
the devices in the network 100. Various administrative tools on the
administrator server 116 may allow authorized users to set user
access permissions to various content resources, monitor resource
usage by users and devices 106, and perform analyses and generate
reports on specific network users and/or devices (e.g., resource
usage tracking reports, training evaluations, etc.).
[0030] The content distribution network 100 may include one or more
communication networks 120. Although only a single network 120 is
identified in FIG. 1, the content distribution network 100 may
include any number of different communication networks between any
of the computer servers and devices shown in FIG. 1 and/or other
devices described herein. Communication networks 120 may enable
communication between the various computing devices, servers, and
other components of the content distribution network 100. As
discussed below, various implementations of content distribution
networks 100 may employ different types of networks 120, for
example, computer networks, telecommunications networks, wireless
networks, and/or any combination of these and/or other
networks.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 2, an illustrative distributed
computing environment 200 is shown including a computer server 202,
four client computing devices 206, and other components that may
implement certain embodiments and features described herein. In
some embodiments, the server 202 may correspond to the content
management server 102 discussed above in FIG. 1, and the client
computing devices 206 may correspond to the user devices 106.
However, the computing environment 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 may
correspond to any other combination of devices and servers
configured to implement a client-server model or other distributed
computing architecture.
[0032] Client devices 206 may be configured to receive and execute
client applications over one or more networks 220. Such client
applications may be web browser based applications and/or
standalone software applications, such as mobile device
applications. Server 202 may be communicatively coupled with the
client devices 206 via one or more communication networks 220.
Client devices 206 may receive client applications from server 202
or from other application providers (e.g., public or private
application stores). Server 202 may be configured to run one or
more server software applications or services, for example,
web-based or cloud-based services, to support content distribution
and interaction with client devices 206. Users operating client
devices 206 may in turn utilize one or more client applications
(e.g., virtual client applications) to interact with server 202 to
utilize the services provided by these components.
[0033] Various different subsystems and/or components 204 may be
implemented on server 202. Users operating the client devices 206
may initiate one or more client applications to use services
provided by these subsystems and components. The subsystems and
components within the server 202 and client devices 206 may be
implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or combinations
thereof. Various different system configurations are possible in
different distributed computing systems 200 and content
distribution networks 100. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is thus
one example of a distributed computing system and is not intended
to be limiting.
[0034] Although exemplary computing environment 200 is shown with
four client computing devices 206, any number of client computing
devices may be supported. Other devices, such as specialized sensor
devices, etc., may interact with client devices 206 and/or server
202.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, various security and integration
components 208 may be used to send and manage communications
between the server 202 and user devices 206 over one or more
communication networks 220. The security and integration components
208 may include separate servers, such as web servers and/or
authentication servers, and/or specialized networking components,
such as firewalls, routers, gateways, load balancers, and the like.
In some cases, the security and integration components 208 may
correspond to a set of dedicated hardware and/or software operating
at the same physical location and under the control of same
entities as server 202. For example, components 208 may include one
or more dedicated web servers and network hardware in a datacenter
or a cloud infrastructure. In other examples, the security and
integration components 208 may correspond to separate hardware and
software components which may be operated at a separate physical
location and/or by a separate entity.
[0036] Security and integration components 208 may implement
various security features for data transmission and storage, such
as authenticating users and restricting access to unknown or
unauthorized users. In various implementations, security and
integration components 208 may provide, for example, a file-based
integration scheme or a service-based integration scheme for
transmitting data between the various devices in the content
distribution network 100. Security and integration components 208
also may use secure data transmission protocols and/or encryption
for data transfers, for example, File Transfer Protocol (FTP),
Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), and/or Pretty Good Privacy
(PGP) encryption.
[0037] In some embodiments, one or more web services may be
implemented within the security and integration components 208
and/or elsewhere within the content distribution network 100. Such
web services, including cross-domain and/or cross-platform web
services, may be developed for enterprise use in accordance with
various web service standards, such as the Web Service
Interoperability (WS-I) guidelines. For example, some web services
may use the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security
(TLS) protocol to provide secure connections between the server 202
and user devices 206. SSL or TLS may use HTTP or HTTPS to provide
authentication and confidentiality. In other examples, web services
may be implemented using the WS-Security standard, which provides
for secure SOAP messages using XML encryption. In other examples,
the security and integration components 208 may include specialized
hardware for providing secure web services. For example, security
and integration components 208 may include secure network
appliances having built-in features such as hardware-accelerated
SSL and HTTPS, WS-Security, and firewalls. Such specialized
hardware may be installed and configured in front of any web
servers, so that any external devices may communicate directly with
the specialized hardware.
[0038] Communication network(s) 220 may be any type of network
familiar to those skilled in the art that can support data
communications using any of a variety of commercially-available
protocols, including without limitation, TCP/IP (transmission
control protocol/Internet protocol), SNA (systems network
architecture), IPX (Internet packet exchange), Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, Hyper Text
Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and Secure Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
(HTTPS), and the like. Merely by way of example, network(s) 220 may
be local area networks (LAN), such as one based on Ethernet,
Token-Ring and/or the like. Network(s) 220 also may be wide-area
networks, such as the Internet. Networks 220 may include
telecommunication networks such as a public switched telephone
networks (PSTNs), or virtual networks such as an intranet or an
extranet. Infrared and wireless networks (e.g., using the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics (IEEE) 802.11 protocol suite or other
wireless protocols) also may be included in networks 220.
[0039] Computing environment 200 also may include one or more data
stores 210 and/or back-end servers 212. In certain examples, the
data stores 210 may correspond to data store server(s) 104
discussed above in FIG. 1, and back-end servers 212 may correspond
to the various back-end servers 112-116. Data stores 210 and
servers 212 may reside in the same datacenter or may operate at a
remote location from server 202. In some cases, one or more data
stores 210 may reside on a non-transitory storage medium within the
server 202. Other data stores 210 and back-end servers 212 may be
remote from server 202 and configured to communicate with server
202 via one or more networks 220. In certain embodiments, data
stores 210 and back-end servers 212 may reside in a storage-area
network (SAN).
[0040] With reference to FIG. 3, an illustrative set of data stores
and/or data store servers is shown, corresponding to the data store
servers 104 of the content distribution network 100 discussed above
in FIG. 1. One or more individual data stores 301-309 may reside in
storage on a single computer server 104 (or a single server farm or
cluster) under the control of a single entity, or may reside on
separate servers operated by different entities and/or at remote
locations. In some embodiments, data stores 301-309 may be accessed
by the content management server 102 and/or other devices and
servers within the network 100 (e.g., user devices 106, supervisor
devices 110, administrator servers 116, etc.). Access to one or
more of the data stores 301-309 may be limited or denied based on
the processes, user credentials, and/or devices attempting to
interact with the data store.
[0041] The paragraphs below describe examples of specific data
stores that may be implemented within some embodiments of a content
distribution network 100. It should be understood that the below
descriptions of data stores 301-309, including their functionality
and types of data stored therein, are illustrative and
non-limiting. Data stores server architecture, design, and the
execution of specific data stores 301-309 may depend on the
context, size, and functional requirements of a content
distribution network 100. For example, in content distribution
systems 100 used for professional training and educational
purposes, separate databases or file-based storage systems may be
implemented in data store server(s) 104 to store trainee and/or
student data, trainer and/or professor data, training module data
and content descriptions, training results, evaluation data, and
the like. In contrast, in content distribution systems 100 used for
media distribution from content providers to subscribers, separate
data stores may be implemented in data stores server(s) 104 to
store listings of available content titles and descriptions,
content title usage statistics, subscriber profiles, account data,
payment data, network usage statistics, etc.
[0042] A user profile data store 301 may include information
relating to the end users within the content distribution network
100. This information may include user characteristics such as the
user names, access credentials (e.g., logins and passwords), user
preferences, and information relating to any previous user
interactions within the content distribution network 100 (e.g.,
requested content, posted content, content modules completed,
training scores or evaluations, other associated users, etc.).
[0043] An accounts data store 302 may generate and store account
data for different users in various roles within the content
distribution network 100. For example, accounts may be created in
an accounts data store 302 for individual end users, supervisors,
administrator users, and entities such as companies or educational
institutions. Account data may include account types, current
account status, account characteristics, and any parameters,
limits, restrictions associated with the accounts.
[0044] A content library data store 303 may include information
describing the individual content items (or content resources)
available via the content distribution network 100. In some
embodiments, the library data store 303 may include metadata,
properties, and other characteristics associated with the content
resources stored in the content server 112. Such data may identify
one or more aspects or content attributes of the associated content
resources, for example, subject matter, access level, or skill
level of the content resources, license attributes of the content
resources (e.g., any limitations and/or restrictions on the
licensable use and/or distribution of the content resource), price
attributes of the content resources (e.g., a price and/or price
structure for determining a payment amount for use or distribution
of the content resource), rating attributes for the content
resources (e.g., data indicating the evaluation or effectiveness of
the content resource), and the like. In some embodiments, the
library data store 303 may be configured to allow updating of
content metadata or properties, and to allow the addition and/or
removal of information relating to the content resources.
[0045] A pricing data store 304 may include pricing information
and/or pricing structures for determining payment amounts for
providing access to the content distribution network 100 and/or the
individual content resources within the network 100. In some cases,
pricing may be determined based on a user's access to the content
distribution network 100, for example, a time-based subscription
fee, or pricing based on network usage and. In other cases, pricing
may be tied to specific content resources. Certain content
resources may have associated pricing information, whereas other
pricing determinations may be based on the resources accessed, the
profiles and/or accounts of the user, and the desired level of
access (e.g., duration of access, network speed, etc.).
Additionally, the pricing data store 304 may include information
relating to compilation pricing for groups of content resources,
such as group prices and/or price structures for groupings of
resources.
[0046] A license data store 305 may include information relating to
licenses and/or licensing of the content resources within the
content distribution network 100. For example, the license data
store 305 may identify licenses and licensing terms for individual
content resources and/or compilations of content resources in the
content server 112, the rights holders for the content resources,
and/or common or large-scale right holder information such as
contact information for rights holders of content not included in
the content server 112.
[0047] A content access data store 306 may include access rights
and security information for the content distribution network 100
and specific content resources. For example, the content access
data store 306 may include login information (e.g., user
identifiers, logins, passwords, etc.) that can be verified during
user login attempts to the network 100. The content access data
store 306 also may be used to store assigned user roles and/or user
levels of access. For example, a user's access level may correspond
to the sets of content resources and/or the client or server
applications that the user is permitted to access. Certain users
may be permitted or denied access to certain applications and
resources based on their subscription level, training program,
course/grade level, etc. Certain users may have supervisory access
over one or more end users, allowing the supervisor to access all
or portions of the end user's content, activities, evaluations,
etc. Additionally, certain users may have administrative access
over some users and/or some applications in the content management
network 100, allowing such users to add and remove user accounts,
modify user access permissions, perform maintenance updates on
software and servers, etc.
[0048] A source data store 307 may include information relating to
the source of the content resources available via the content
distribution network. For example, a source data store 307 may
identify the authors and originating devices of content resources,
previous pieces of data and/or groups of data originating from the
same authors or originating devices, and the like.
[0049] An evaluation data store 308 may include information used to
direct the evaluation of users and content resources in the content
management network 100. In some embodiments, the evaluation data
store 308 may contain, for example, the analysis criteria and the
analysis guidelines for evaluating users (e.g., trainees/students,
gaming users, media content consumers, etc.) and/or for evaluating
the content resources in the network 100. The evaluation data store
308 also may include information relating to evaluation processing
tasks, for example, the identification of users and user devices
106 that have received certain content resources or accessed
certain applications, the status of evaluations or evaluation
histories for content resources, users, or applications, and the
like. Evaluation criteria may be stored in the evaluation data
store 308 including data and/or instructions in the form of one or
several electronic rubrics or scoring guides for use in the
evaluation of the content, users, or applications. The evaluation
data store 308 also may include past evaluations and/or evaluation
analyses for users, content, and applications, including relative
rankings, characterizations, explanations, and the like.
[0050] In addition to the illustrative data stores described above,
data store server(s) 104 (e.g., database servers, file-based
storage servers, etc.) may include one or more external data
aggregators 309. External data aggregators 309 may include
third-party data sources accessible to the content management
network 100, but not maintained by the content management network
100. External data aggregators 309 may include any electronic
information source relating to the users, content resources, or
applications of the content distribution network 100. For example,
external data aggregators 309 may be third-party data stores
containing demographic data, education related data, consumer sales
data, health related data, and the like. Illustrative external data
aggregators 309 may include, for example, social networking web
servers, public records data stores, learning management systems,
educational institution servers, business servers, consumer sales
data stores, medical record data stores, etc. Data retrieved from
various external data aggregators 309 may be used to verify and
update user account information, suggest user content, and perform
user and content evaluations.
[0051] With reference now to FIG. 4, a block diagram is shown
illustrating an embodiment of one or more content management
servers 102 within a content distribution network 100. As discussed
above, content management server(s) 102 may include various server
hardware and software components that manage the content resources
within the content distribution network 100 and provide interactive
and adaptive content to users on various user devices 106. For
example, content management server(s) 102 may provide instructions
to and receive information from the other devices within the
content distribution network 100, in order to manage and transmit
content resources, user data, and server or client applications
executing within the network 100.
[0052] A content management server 102 may include a content
customization system 402. The content customization system 402 may
be implemented using dedicated hardware within the content
distribution network 100 (e.g., a content customization server
402), or using designated hardware and software resources within a
shared content management server 102. In some embodiments, the
content customization system 402 may adjust the selection and
adaptive capabilities of content resources to match the needs and
desires of the users receiving the content. For example, the
content customization system 402 may query various data stores and
servers 104 to retrieve user information, such as user preferences
and characteristics (e.g., from a user profile data store 301),
user access restrictions to content recourses (e.g., from a content
access data store 306), previous user results and content
evaluations (e.g., from an evaluation data store 308), and the
like. Based on the retrieved information from data stores 104 and
other data sources, the content customization system 402 may modify
content resources for individual users.
[0053] A content management server 102 also may include a user
management system 404. The user management system 404 may be
implemented using dedicated hardware within the content
distribution network 100 (e.g., a user management server 404), or
using designated hardware and software resources within a shared
content management server 102. In some embodiments, the user
management system 404 may monitor the progress of users through
various types of content resources and groups, such as media
compilations, courses or curriculums in training or educational
contexts, interactive gaming environments, and the like. For
example, the user management system 404 may query one or more
databases and/or data store servers 104 to retrieve user data such
as associated content compilations or programs, content completion
status, user goals, results, and the like.
[0054] A content management server 102 also may include an
evaluation system 406. The evaluation system 406 may be implemented
using dedicated hardware within the content distribution network
100 (e.g., an evaluation server 406), or using designated hardware
and software resources within a shared content management server
102. The evaluation system 406 may be configured to receive and
analyze information from user devices 106. For example, various
ratings of content resources submitted by users may be compiled and
analyzed, and then stored in a data store (e.g., a content library
data store 303 and/or evaluation data store 308) associated with
the content. In some embodiments, the evaluation server 406 may
analyze the information to determine the effectiveness or
appropriateness of content resources with, for example, a subject
matter, an age group, a skill level, or the like. In some
embodiments, the evaluation system 406 may provide updates to the
content customization system 402 or the user management system 404,
with the attributes of one or more content resources or groups of
resources within the network 100. The evaluation system 406 also
may receive and analyze user evaluation data from user devices 106,
supervisor devices 110, and administrator servers 116, etc. For
instance, evaluation system 406 may receive, aggregate, and analyze
user evaluation data for different types of users (e.g., end users,
supervisors, administrators, etc.) in different contexts (e.g.,
media consumer ratings, trainee or student comprehension levels,
teacher effectiveness levels, gamer skill levels, etc.).
[0055] A content management server 102 also may include a content
delivery system 408. The content delivery system 408 may be
implemented using dedicated hardware within the content
distribution network 100 (e.g., a content delivery server 408), or
using designated hardware and software resources within a shared
content management server 102. The content delivery system 408 may
receive content resources from the content customization system 402
and/or from the user management system 404, and provide the
resources to user devices 106. The content delivery system 408 may
determine the appropriate presentation format for the content
resources based on the user characteristics and preferences, and/or
the device capabilities of user devices 106. If needed, the content
delivery system 408 may convert the content resources to the
appropriate presentation format and/or compress the content before
transmission. In some embodiments, the content delivery system 408
may also determine the appropriate transmission media and
communication protocols for transmission of the content
resources.
[0056] In some embodiments, the content delivery system 408 may
include specialized security and integration hardware 410, along
with corresponding software components to implement the appropriate
security features content transmission and storage, to provide the
supported network and client access models, and to support the
performance and scalability requirements of the network 100. The
security and integration layer 410 may include some or all of the
security and integration components 208 discussed above in FIG. 2,
and may control the transmission of content resources and other
data, as well as the receipt of requests and content interactions,
to and from the user devices 106, supervisor devices 110,
administrative servers 116, and other devices in the network
100.
[0057] With reference now to FIG. 5, a block diagram of an
illustrative computer system is shown. The system 500 may
correspond to any of the computing devices or servers of the
content distribution network 100 described above, or any other
computing devices described herein. In this example, computer
system 500 includes processing units 504 that communicate with a
number of peripheral subsystems via a bus subsystem 502. These
peripheral subsystems include, for example, a storage subsystem
510, an I/O subsystem 526, and a communications subsystem 532.
[0058] Bus subsystem 502 provides a mechanism for letting the
various components and subsystems of computer system 500
communicate with each other as intended. Although bus subsystem 502
is shown schematically as a single bus, alternative embodiments of
the bus subsystem may utilize multiple buses. Bus subsystem 502 may
be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or
memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a
variety of bus architectures. Such architectures may include, for
example, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel
Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics
Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI) bus, which can be implemented as a Mezzanine bus
manufactured to the IEEE P1386.1 standard.
[0059] Processing unit 504, which may be implemented as one or more
integrated circuits (e.g., a conventional microprocessor or
microcontroller), controls the operation of computer system 500.
One or more processors, including single core and/or multicore
processors, may be included in processing unit 504. As shown in the
figure, processing unit 504 may be implemented as one or more
independent processing units 506 and/or 508 with single or
multicore processors and processor caches included in each
processing unit. In other embodiments, processing unit 504 may also
be implemented as a quad-core processing unit or larger multicore
designs (e.g., hexa-core processors, octo-core processors, ten-core
processors, or greater.
[0060] Processing unit 504 may execute a variety of software
processes embodied in program code, and may maintain multiple
concurrently executing programs or processes. At any given time,
some or all of the program code to be executed can be resident in
processor(s) 504 and/or in storage subsystem 510. In some
embodiments, computer system 500 may include one or more
specialized processors, such as digital signal processors (DSPs),
outboard processors, graphics processors, application-specific
processors, and/or the like.
[0061] I/O subsystem 526 may include device controllers 528 for one
or more user interface input devices and/or user interface output
devices 530. User interface input and output devices 530 may be
integral with the computer system 500 (e.g., integrated audio/video
systems, and/or touchscreen displays), or may be separate
peripheral devices which are attachable/detachable from the
computer system 500.
[0062] Input devices 530 may include a keyboard, pointing devices
such as a mouse or trackball, a touchpad or touch screen
incorporated into a display, a scroll wheel, a click wheel, a dial,
a button, a switch, a keypad, audio input devices with voice
command recognition systems, microphones, and other types of input
devices. Input devices 530 may also include three dimensional (3D)
mice, joysticks or pointing sticks, gamepads and graphic tablets,
and audio/visual devices such as speakers, digital cameras, digital
camcorders, portable media players, webcams, image scanners,
fingerprint scanners, barcode reader 3D scanners, 3D printers,
laser rangefinders, and eye gaze tracking devices. Additional input
devices 530 may include, for example, motion sensing and/or gesture
recognition devices that enable users to control and interact with
an input device through a natural user interface using gestures and
spoken commands, eye gesture recognition devices that detect eye
activity from users and transform the eye gestures as input into an
input device, voice recognition sensing devices that enable users
to interact with voice recognition systems through voice commands,
medical imaging input devices, MIDI keyboards, digital musical
instruments, and the like.
[0063] Output devices 530 may include one or more display
subsystems, indicator lights, or non-visual displays such as audio
output devices, etc. Display subsystems may include, for example,
cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, flat-panel devices, such as those
using a liquid crystal display (LCD) or plasma display, projection
devices, touch screens, and the like. In general, use of the term
"output device" is intended to include all possible types of
devices and mechanisms for outputting information from computer
system 500 to a user or other computer. For example, output devices
530 may include, without limitation, a variety of display devices
that visually convey text, graphics and audio/video information
such as monitors, printers, speakers, headphones, automotive
navigation systems, plotters, voice output devices, and modems.
[0064] Computer system 500 may comprise one or more storage
subsystems 510, comprising hardware and software components used
for storing data and program instructions, such as system memory
518 and computer-readable storage media 516. The system memory 518
and/or computer-readable storage media 516 may store program
instructions that are loadable and executable on processing units
504, as well as data generated during the execution of these
programs.
[0065] Depending on the configuration and type of computer system
500, system memory 318 may be stored in volatile memory (such as
random access memory (RAM) 512) and/or in non-volatile storage
drives 514 (such as read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, etc.) The
RAM 512 may contain data and/or program modules that are
immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated and
executed by processing units 504. In some implementations, system
memory 518 may include multiple different types of memory, such as
static random access memory (SRAM) or dynamic random access memory
(DRAM). In some implementations, a basic input/output system
(BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer
information between elements within computer system 500, such as
during start-up, may typically be stored in the non-volatile
storage drives 514. By way of example, and not limitation, system
memory 518 may include application programs 520, such as client
applications, Web browsers, mid-tier applications, server
applications, etc., program data 522, and an operating system
524.
[0066] Storage subsystem 510 also may provide one or more tangible
computer-readable storage media 516 for storing the basic
programming and data constructs that provide the functionality of
some embodiments. Software (programs, code modules, instructions)
that when executed by a processor provide the functionality
described herein may be stored in storage subsystem 510. These
software modules or instructions may be executed by processing
units 504. Storage subsystem 510 may also provide a repository for
storing data used in accordance with the present invention.
[0067] Storage subsystem 300 may also include a computer-readable
storage media reader that can further be connected to
computer-readable storage media 516. Together and, optionally, in
combination with system memory 518, computer-readable storage media
516 may comprehensively represent remote, local, fixed, and/or
removable storage devices plus storage media for temporarily and/or
more permanently containing, storing, transmitting, and retrieving
computer-readable information.
[0068] Computer-readable storage media 516 containing program code,
or portions of program code, may include any appropriate media
known or used in the art, including storage media and communication
media, such as but not limited to, volatile and non-volatile,
removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or
technology for storage and/or transmission of information. This can
include tangible computer-readable storage media such as RAM, ROM,
electronically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory or
other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD), or
other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic
disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or other tangible
computer readable media. This can also include nontangible
computer-readable media, such as data signals, data transmissions,
or any other medium which can be used to transmit the desired
information and which can be accessed by computer system 500.
[0069] By way of example, computer-readable storage media 516 may
include a hard disk drive that reads from or writes to
non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive
that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic
disk, and an optical disk drive that reads from or writes to a
removable, nonvolatile optical disk such as a CD ROM, DVD, and
Blu-Ray.RTM. disk, or other optical media. Computer-readable
storage media 516 may include, but is not limited to, Zip.RTM.
drives, flash memory cards, universal serial bus (USB) flash
drives, secure digital (SD) cards, DVD disks, digital video tape,
and the like. Computer-readable storage media 516 may also include,
solid-state drives (SSD) based on non-volatile memory such as
flash-memory based SSDs, enterprise flash drives, solid state ROM,
and the like, SSDs based on volatile memory such as solid state
RAM, dynamic RAM, static RAM, DRAM-based SSDs, magnetoresistive RAM
(MRAM) SSDs, and hybrid SSDs that use a combination of DRAM and
flash memory based SSDs. The disk drives and their associated
computer-readable media may provide non-volatile storage of
computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules,
and other data for computer system 500.
[0070] Communications subsystem 532 may provide a communication
interface from computer system 500 and external computing devices
via one or more communication networks, including local area
networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) (e.g., the Internet),
and various wireless telecommunications networks. As illustrated in
FIG. 5, the communications subsystem 532 may include, for example,
one or more network interface controllers (NICs) 534, such as
Ethernet cards, Asynchronous Transfer Mode NICs, Token Ring NICs,
and the like, as well as one or more wireless communications
interfaces 536, such as wireless network interface controllers
(WNICs), wireless network adapters, and the like. Additionally
and/or alternatively, the communications subsystem 532 may include
one or more modems (telephone, satellite, cable, ISDN), synchronous
or asynchronous digital subscriber line (DSL) units, FireWire.RTM.
interfaces, USB.RTM. interfaces, and the like. Communications
subsystem 536 also may include radio frequency (RF) transceiver
components for accessing wireless voice and/or data networks (e.g.,
using cellular telephone technology, advanced data network
technology, such as 3G, 4G or EDGE (enhanced data rates for global
evolution), WiFi (IEEE 802.11 family standards, or other mobile
communication technologies, or any combination thereof), global
positioning system (GPS) receiver components, and/or other
components.
[0071] The various physical components of the communications
subsystem 532 may be detachable components coupled to the computer
system 500 via a computer network, a FireWire.RTM. bus, or the
like, and/or may be physically integrated onto a motherboard of the
computer system 500. Communications subsystem 532 also may be
implemented in whole or in part by software.
[0072] In some embodiments, communications subsystem 532 may also
receive input communication in the form of structured and/or
unstructured data feeds, event streams, event updates, and the
like, on behalf of one or more users who may use or access computer
system 500. For example, communications subsystem 532 may be
configured to receive data feeds in real-time from users of social
networks and/or other communication services, web feeds such as
Rich Site Summary (RSS) feeds, and/or real-time updates from one or
more third party information sources (e.g., data aggregators 309).
Additionally, communications subsystem 532 may be configured to
receive data in the form of continuous data streams, which may
include event streams of real-time events and/or event updates
(e.g., sensor data applications, financial tickers, network
performance measuring tools, clickstream analysis tools, automobile
traffic monitoring, etc.). Communications subsystem 532 may output
such structured and/or unstructured data feeds, event streams,
event updates, and the like to one or more data stores 104 that may
be in communication with one or more streaming data source
computers coupled to computer system 500.
[0073] Due to the ever-changing nature of computers and networks,
the description of computer system 500 depicted in the figure is
intended only as a specific example. Many other configurations
having more or fewer components than the system depicted in the
figure are possible. For example, customized hardware might also be
used and/or particular elements might be implemented in hardware,
firmware, software, or a combination. Further, connection to other
computing devices, such as network input/output devices, may be
employed. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a
person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other ways
and/or methods to implement the various embodiments.
[0074] With reference now to FIG. 6, a block diagram is shown
illustrating an example of a mathematical expression conversion
system 600. In various implementations, an expression conversion
system 600 may include one or more expression input devices 610,
refreshable braille display devices 630, and/or visual display
devices 640, each of which may include or may be configured to
communicate with an expression converter 620. As discussed below,
the devices and components discussed in reference to system 600 may
receive and parse input corresponding to various different types of
mathematical expressions, perform one or more conversions on the
received mathematical expressions, and then generate braille and/or
visual output representing the mathematical expressions via the
refreshable braille display devices 630 and/or visual display
devices 640. More specifically, in various embodiments, expression
input devices 610, refreshable braille display devices 630, and
visual display devices 640 may be configured to receive, parse, and
transmit data corresponding to inputs of mathematical expressions,
as well as receive and output converted mathematical expressions
using braille output characters and/or visual output characters.
Expression converters 620 may be configured to receive mathematical
expression input data, perform various conversions on the input
data, and then output converted mathematical expressions to various
appropriate user devices 410, 430, and 440. Such conversions may
include, for example, mathematical expression input to content
markup conversions, braille character input to content markup
conversions, content markup to braille character output
conversions, and content markup to presentation markup
conversions.
[0075] In order to perform these features and other functionality
described herein, each of the components and sub-components
discussed in the example mathematical expression conversion system
600 may correspond to a single computer server or a complex
computing system including a combination of computing devices,
storage devices, network components, etc. Each of these components
and their respective subcomponents may be implemented in hardware,
software, or a combination thereof. Certain expression input
devices 610, refreshable braille display devices 630, and/or visual
display devices 640 may communicate directly with the expression
converter 620, while other such devices may communicate with the
expression converter 620 indirectly via one or more intermediary
network components (e.g., routers, gateways, firewalls, etc.) or
other devices in a content distribution network (e.g., content
management servers 102, content servers 112, etc.). Although the
physical components of communication networks 220 have not been
shown in this figure so as not to obscure the other elements
depicted in the figure, it should be understood that any of the
network hardware components and network architecture designs may be
implemented in various embodiments to support communication between
the servers, devices, and data stores in the system 600.
Additionally, different devices 610, 630, and/or 640 may use
different networks and networks types to communicate with each
other and with the expression converter 620, including one or more
telecommunications networks, cable networks, satellite networks,
cellular networks and other wireless networks, and computer-based
IP networks, and the like. Further, certain components within
mathematical expression conversion system 600 may include special
purpose hardware devices and/or special purpose software, such as
those included in I/O subsystems of expression input devices 610,
refreshable braille display devices 630, and/or visual display
devices 640, in order to receive, parse, render, and display
various mathematical expressions using braille or visual output
characters. Additional special purpose hardware devices and/or
special purpose software may be included within the processing
units and memory systems of the expression converter 620 and/or
devices 610, 630, and 640, in order to parse, store, and convert
various types of special and non-standard mathematical characters
and symbols, and complex mathematical expressions.
[0076] The mathematical expression conversion system 600, and other
examples and embodiments described herein, may be used to receive
input data corresponding to mathematical expressions, parse and
convert the received expressions, and output braille and visual
character representations of the expressions on various display
devices. As used herein, a mathematical expression may be any
expression containing one or more mathematical symbols, including
numbers, variables, operators, and functions, as well as grouping
symbols and any other mathematical symbol. Different types of
mathematical expressions that may be received, converted,
generated, and/or output in the various embodiments described
herein may include arithmetic expressions, algebraic expressions,
polynomial expressions, closed-form expressions, and the like.
Examples of specific mathematical expressions may include any
combination of one or more constants, variables, arithmetic
operators, factorials, exponents, roots, logarithms, trigonometric
functions, integrals, differentials, and the like. Moreover, it
should be understood that these specific examples and the other
examples of mathematical expressions described herein are
illustrative only and non-limiting, and that the techniques
described herein may be used to receive, parse, convert, and
generate braille and/or visual output for any mathematical
expression.
[0077] In some embodiments, mathematical expression conversion
systems 600 may be integrated within, or configured to operate in
collaboration with, one or more content distribution networks 100.
For example, system 600 may be the same as, or may operate within
or in collaboration with, any of the content distribution network
(CDNs) 100 described above. Thus, specific implementations of a
mathematical expression conversion system 600 may include, without
limitation, educational and professional training systems and
networks, interactive gaming systems and networks, presentation
systems and networks, collaborative working systems and networks,
websites and other Internet-based systems and networks, etc. In
such cases, expression converters 620 may be implemented within one
or more content servers 112, content management servers 102, and/or
data store servers 104, and expression input devices 610,
refreshable braille display devices 630, and visual display devices
640 correspond to the user devices 106 and 110 described above in
reference to CDN 100. In other examples, expression converter 620
may be implemented using one or more computer servers, and other
specialized hardware and software components, separately from other
CDN components such as content servers 112, content management
servers 102, data store servers 104, and the like. In these
examples, the expression converter 620 may be configured to
communicate directly with devices 610, 630, and 640, or indirectly
through content management servers 102 and/or other components and
communications networks of a CDN 100.
[0078] Expression input devices 610 may include any computing
device configured to receive user input corresponding to a
mathematical expression. Thus, expression input devices 610 may
include desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, tablet
computers, mobile devices, and the like. As shown in this example,
certain expression input devices 610 may include one or more input
components 611 and/or output components 612, which may be
peripheral devices which are attachable/detachable from the from
the device 610, or may be integrated within the device 610. Input
components 611 may include, for example, keyboards, mouses,
styluses, touchscreen displays, cameras, microphones, etc. Output
components 612 may include various display screens, audio and/or
video systems, etc. In some cases, expression input devices 610 may
include specialized hardware components and/or software components
for inputting and outputting mathematical expressions. For
instance, an expression input device 610 may include an integrated
or peripheral specialized mathematics keyboard 611 to facilitate
the inputting of special and non-standard mathematical symbols.
Additionally, specialized display screens 612 and other outputs may
be used in some cases to render and display special and
non-standard mathematical symbols and expressions. In certain
embodiments, expression input devices 610 cases may include
combinations of specialized software and hardware components used
for inputting and outputting mathematical expressions. For example,
a touchscreen display and/or stylus pen may be combined with
software functionality used to identify and distinguish
mathematical symbols and combinations of symbols in expressions. In
other cases, sequences and/or combinations of keys may be depressed
on a standard keyboard 411 or touchscreen keyboard, such that each
unique key sequence or combination may represent a different
mathematical symbol. A specialized software-based math input
display panel also may be rendered on a display screen 612, and the
user may identify and select a desired symbol using a mouse,
keyboard, or touchscreen capability, etc. In still other cases,
microphones and/or cameras may be used along with voice or gesture
recognition and control software to allow users to input
mathematical symbols and expressions via an expression input device
610.
[0079] Mathematical expression conversion systems 600 also may
include various display devices configured to output data
corresponding to mathematical expressions, including one or more
refreshable braille display devices 630 and one or more visual
display devices 640. In some embodiments, expression input devices
610 may be similar or identical to display devices 630 and/or 640,
in that such devices may include both input components for
receiving mathematical expression input data and output components
for displaying mathematical expression output data. In fact,
designated expression input devices 610 may be optional in some
systems 600, and one or more of the display devices 630 and/or 640
may be used for inputting and outputting mathematical expression
data. Additionally, although these examples include both
refreshable braille display devices 630 and visual display devices
640, other examples may include either a set of refreshable braille
display devices 630 or a set of visual display devices 640, but not
both. As discussed below, expression converters and/or conversion
processes may be used even in cases when only one type of display
device (e.g., 630 or 640) is used within the system 600.
[0080] Refreshable braille display devices 630 may include one or
more electromechanical braille cells configured to display braille
characters for braille readers. In some cases, a plurality of
electromechanical braille cells may each include a plurality of
output dots (e.g., round-tipped pins) which may be raised and
lowered based on the voltages applied to the electromechanical
braille cell. Different combinations of output dots may be raised
and lowered to represent different characters. As discussed below,
certain common mathematical symbols such as letters, numbers, and
arithmetic operators may be represented using a single braille
cell, while multiple braille cells may be required to represent
other mathematical symbols such as special and non-standard
symbols. Illustrative examples of refreshable braille display
devices 630 may include, without limitation, the BRAILLE SENSE U2
NOTETAKER by HIMS INC., or the BRAILLIANT BRAILLE DISPLAY by
HUMANWARE, among others.
[0081] In addition to the panels of electromechanical braille cells
632, certain braille display devices 630 may include a keypad 631
for entry of mathematical symbols and expressions. In some cases,
keypads 631 may correspond to a standard keyboard, optionally
including braille dots affixed to some or all of the individual
keys to aid visually impaired users. In other cases, keypads 631
may include specialized braille keyboards (e.g., Perkins style,
6-key or 8-key chorded keyboards used for braille typing).
Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more braille display
devices 630 may include additional hardware and software for
receiving mathematical expression input and displaying mathematical
expression output for visually impaired users, such as microphones
and voice recognition and control functionality for
receiving/processing mathematical symbols and expressions, and
device speakers and speech synthesizers for outputting mathematical
symbols and expressions.
[0082] Visual display devices 640 may include any computing devices
configured to receive and display mathematical expression output.
As previously noted, visual display devices 640 may be similar or
identical to the expression input devices 610, and thus may include
desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, tablet computers, mobile
devices, and any other computing device capable of displaying
mathematical symbols and expressions. As shown in this example,
certain visual display devices 640 may include one or more input
components 641 and/or output components 642, which may include
peripheral devices or I/O components integrated within the device.
For example, output components 642 may correspond to display
screens for displaying mathematical expressions. In some cases,
visual display devices 640 may include standard computer display
screens 642, while in other cases the display screens 642 may be
specialized for rendering and displaying mathematical symbols and
expressions. For instance, displaying of certain mathematical
symbols and expressions may require (or may preferably include)
display capabilities such as a minimum screen size, minimum display
resolution, color display, graphics or video capabilities, 3D
display capabilities, and the like. Additionally, visual display
devices 640 including such specialized display screens 642 may
include corresponding specialized software components and
underlying hardware for rendering and outputting to the display
screen 642, such as specialized graphics components (e.g., graphics
processors, graphics drivers, 3D graphics support, etc.),
mathematical symbol libraries, mathematical expression rendering
software packages, and the like.
[0083] In shown in this example, expression converter 620 may
communicate with expression input devices 610 and one or more
braille display devices 630 and/or visual display devices 640 via
communication networks 220. As shown in this example, an expression
converter 620 may be implemented as a server, device, or other
standalone hardware and software system within a mathematical
expression conversion system 600. In other examples, an expression
converter 620 may be integrated within one or more servers or other
components of an associated CDN 100. For example, an expression
converter 620 may be implemented as specialized software within a
content management server 102 or other CDN component, and may
leverage much of the existing hardware and software infrastructure
of the CDN 100 to convert mathematical expressions for devices 610,
630, and 640 (which may correspond to user devices 106 and
supervisor devices 110, etc.) within an educational or professional
training CDN 100, a mathematical presentation and collaboration CDN
100, an interactive math-based gaming CDN 100, etc.
[0084] Expression converter 620 may include multiple different
converters and/or conversion processes for performing the various
mathematical expression conversions described herein. For example,
expression converter 620 may include one or more of a math
input-to-content markup converter 621, a content markup-to-braille
converter 622, a content markup-to-presentation markup converter
623, and a braille-to-content markup converter 624. The
functionality of converters 621-624 is described below in reference
to FIGS. 7-9. In various embodiments, converters 621-624 may be
implemented as separate converters using dedicated hardware
resources and/or executable software components. Alternatively or
additionally, some or all of the converters 621-624 may be combined
to use the same software executable and/or underlying hardware
resources. In any such embodiments, each converter 621-624 may
maintain and apply a specific set of mathematical expression
conversion rules that is unique to the individual converter 621-624
and/or conversion processes applied. As discussed below in more
detail, these expression conversion rules may include character
mapping rules as well as special encoding and decoding rules used
specifically for mathematical expressions that do not correspond to
character mapping rules. Different sets of special encoding and
decoding rules may be stored and applied by each converter 621-624
and/or conversion process, and may be used to provide uniformity of
presentation and to reduce (or even eliminate) ambiguous
mathematical expressions during the conversion and braille and/or
visual display processes. The various conversion rules for
mathematical expressions used by converters 621-624 may be stored
within the memory of the converters 621-624 themselves, or within
an external data store 625. In some embodiments, storing some or
all such conversion rule within an external data store 625 may
allow for the rules to be updated dynamically and seamlessly
without affecting the execution of the converters 621-624.
[0085] Additionally, in some embodiments, the expression converter
620 might not be implemented separately from the expression input
devices 610, refreshable braille display devices 630, and/or visual
display devices 640, but instead may be implemented within these
devices leveraging the various hardware and software components
therein. Thus, implementing the expression converter 620 as a
separate server or device as shown in FIG. 6, and/or within any CDN
server-side component (e.g., CMS 102, content server 112,
administrative server 116, etc.) may be optional in such
embodiments. Instead, each of the expression input devices 610,
refreshable braille display devices 630, and/or visual display
devices 640 may include one or more of the converter components
621-624. For instance, refreshable braille display devices 430 may
include a content markup-to-braille converter 622 and a
braille-to-content markup converter 624. Similarly, expression
input devices 610 and/or visual display devices 440 may include a
math input-to-content markup converter 621, and a content
markup-to-presentation markup converter 623. For visual display
devices 440 that support braille display capabilities (see, e.g.,
FIGS. 12-14), such visual display devices 440 may also include
braille converters 622 and 624.
[0086] Referring now to FIG. 7, a flow diagram is shown
illustrating a process of converting mathematical expression data
received from an input device to braille output and/or visual
display output. As described below, the steps in this process may
be performed by one or more components in the mathematical
expression conversion systems 600 described above, such as an
expression converter 620 and/or various input and output devices
610, 630, and 640. However, it should be understood that the
various features and processes described herein, including
receiving input data corresponding to mathematical expressions,
performing conversion processes on the mathematical expression
input data, determining output devices, and transmitting braille
output and/or visual output to the appropriate output devices need
not be limited to the specific systems and hardware implementations
described above in FIGS. 1-6.
[0087] In step 701, mathematical expression input data is received,
for example, by an expression converter 620 within a mathematical
expression conversion system 600. As discussed above, in various
different embodiments, expression converters 620 may be implemented
as standalone servers or devices, integrated within the existing
server infrastructure of a CDN 100, and/or integrated within
individual user devices such as the expression input devices 610,
refreshable braille display devices 630, and/or visual display
devices 640 discussed above.
[0088] The mathematical expression input data received in step 701
may consist of a single character corresponding to any mathematical
symbol (e.g., a number, variable, operator, functions, grouping
symbol, etc.) or may comprise an expression having multiple
symbols. In some cases, the mathematical expression input data
received in step 701 may be received in response to a user input of
one or more characters via an expression input device 610 or other
user devices 630 and 640 with input capabilities. For example,
within an implementation of an educational or professional training
software system 600, an interactive gaming system 600, an online
presentation system 600, a collaborative work environment 600,
etc., a first user (e.g., a presenter, teacher, trainer, etc.) may
input one or more mathematical symbols into a mathematical user
interface provided on an expression input device 610. In response,
the expression input device 610 may transmit data to the expression
converter 620 identifying the input characters/symbols. As
discussed below, this action by the first user (e.g., inputting or
updating a single character of a mathematical expression) may
trigger the conversions of the input data and the outputting of the
converted mathematical expressions to visual display devices 640
and/or refreshable braille display devices 630, which may be
performed in real-time or near real-time in response to the
mathematical expression input data received in step 701.
[0089] In other cases, the mathematical expression input data
received in step 701 need not be received from an expression input
device 610 or other user device, but may correspond to data
received over a communication network 220. For example, in some
embodiments, the receipt of the mathematical expression input data
in step 701 may correspond to the expression converter 620
retrieving a web page or other document containing one or more
mathematical expressions from a remote server. Such documents may
correspond to any type of content resource that may be retrieved
and consumed within a CDN 100, such as media content,
presentations, educational or professional training content,
interactive gaming content, web-based content, any of which may be
stored by a content server 112 and/or provided by a content
management server 102. In these examples, a server or client system
within the CDN 100 may determine that the requested/retrieved
content resources include one or more mathematical expressions, and
in response may invoke an expression converter 620 implemented
within a server (e.g., CMS 102 and/or content server 112), or
within a client device such as user devices 106 and/or 110 which
may correspond to visual display devices 640 and/or refreshable
braille display devices 630, in order to convert and the output the
mathematical expression data to the appropriate user devices.
[0090] In step 702, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the mathematical expression input data
received in step 701 to convert the mathematical expression to
content markup. As used herein, content markup for a mathematical
expression may refer to a language or code defining a specified
formatting, style, and/or layout for representing mathematical
expressions based on the underlying structure of the expression.
Thus, content markup is encoded explicitly based on the
mathematical structure of the expression, rather than based on any
particular visual or oral rendering or representation of the
expression. Content markup may be implemented by directly encoding
the expression tree structure of the mathematical expression,
without any dependency on an additional processing or special
parsing of the expression. Thus, a content markup representation of
a mathematical expression may be entirely non-ambiguous, unlike
certain textual or visual representations of mathematical
expression that may be ambiguous in some cases. Examples of
different content markup definitions that may be used in step 702
include any of content markup specifications within the
Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) editions and/or versions
defined by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), although it should
be understood that these examples are illustrative only and
non-limiting, and that other content markup definitions or
specifications may be used in other examples.
[0091] In some embodiments, the conversion process performed in
step 702 may include a conversion from ASCII, Unicode (e.g., UTF-8
or UTF-16), or another visual display format, to content markup. To
perform the conversion in step 702, the expression converter 620
may invoke the math-to-content markup converter 621 and/or the
applicable expression conversion rules for math-to-content markup
conversion from an expression conversion rules data store 625.
Converter 621 may be configured to parse the mathematical
expression input, identify the structural components of the
expression (e.g., determine an expression tree corresponding to the
input), and then generate and populate the corresponding markup
elements. Additional conversions that may be performed in step 702
may include an initial handwriting to ASCII or Unicode conversion,
voice-to-text conversion, etc., which may be used when the
mathematical expression input data received in step 701 corresponds
to handwriting or voice data, and so on. Referring briefly to FIGS.
10A and 11A, two examples of content markup are shown that may be
generated in step 702, based on received input corresponding to the
textual mathematical expression shown above each text box in these
examples.
[0092] In step 703, the expression converter 620 may determine
whether or not any refreshable braille display devices 630 are
present in the system 600 to receive the mathematical expression
output. For example, the mathematical expression input in step 701
may be received during an interactive computing session within a
CDN 100, such as an online presentation, eLearning lecture or
interactive learning session, interactive gaming session, or
collaborative remote work session. In any of these examples, the
expression input device 610 may correspond to a user device 106 or
110 of a participant, presenter, collaborator, etc. The expression
converter 620 may determine in step 703 whether any of the other
user devices participating in the online presentation session,
eLearning lecture or interactive learning session, interactive
gaming session, or collaborative remote work session, are
refreshable braille display devices 630. If a system 600 includes
one or more currently active refreshable braille display devices
630 (703:Yes), then the expression converter 620 may determine that
braille output should be generated and output to these devices 630.
For example, if a set of user devices 106 receiving a live
presentation, participating in a real-time collaborative work
session, or receiving other CDN content resources, includes one or
more of the braille display devices 630a-630c (703:Yes), then the
expression converter 620 may convert the mathematical expression to
braille output as described below in step 704. However, if no
braille readers are using refreshable braille display devices 630
to receive and participate in the communication session (703:No),
then the expression converter 620 may determine not to generate
braille output. For example, if the set of user devices 106
receiving a live presentation, participating in a real-time
collaborative work session, or receiving other CDN content
resources, includes only visual display devices 640a-640c and no
braille display devices 630 (703:No), then the expression converter
620 may determine that there is no need to convert the receive
mathematical expression input data into braille output in step
704.
[0093] In some embodiments, step 703 may be optional, and the
expression converter 620 may determine that braille output should
be generated in all cases. Thus, in such embodiments, the
expression converter 620 need not be aware of which user devices
106 (if any) are receiving, participating in the session, or
otherwise consuming the content resources including the
mathematical expression input received in step 701, but instead may
simply perform all conversion processes described herein in
response to each received mathematical expression input.
[0094] In step 704, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the content markup data generated in
step 702 to convert the content markup to braille output
characters. To perform the conversion in step 704, the expression
converter 620 may invoke the content markup-to-braille converter
622 and/or the applicable expression conversion rules for content
markup-to-braille conversion from an expression conversion rules
data store 625. The output generated by the content
markup-to-braille converter 622 in step 704 may correspond to
Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics, and/or any other braille
mathematical notation. Converter 622 may be configured to parse
content markup generated in step 702, and identify the proper
braille characters and the appropriate format and presentation
order for the braille characters to be displayed. The conversion
rules integrated within and/or applied by the content
markup-to-braille converter 622 may include one-to-one character
mapping rules (i.e., rules mapping a single mathematical symbol to
a single braille symbol), one-to-many character mapping rules
(i.e., rules mapping a single mathematical symbol to multiple
braille symbols), and/or various special braille encoding rules for
mathematical expressions that do not correspond to one-to-one or
one-to-many character mapping rules. Such special braille encoding
rules, discussed below in more detail in reference to FIGS. 12-14,
may be used to provide uniformity of presentation of braille output
and to reduce or eliminate ambiguity for the represented
mathematical expression.
[0095] In step 705, the expression converter 620 may transmit the
braille output characters (also referred to as braille symbols) to
the appropriate refreshable braille display devices 630. As noted
above, the recipient devices 630 in step 705 may correspond to the
set of braille display devices 630 participating in an online
presentation session, eLearning lecture or interactive learning
session, interactive gaming session, or collaborative remote work
session, etc. Accordingly, the braille conversion in step 704 and
transmission in step 705 may be performed in real-time or near
real-time with respect to the mathematical expression input
received in step 701, so that refreshable braille display devices
630 may receive and output the converted braille characters in
real-time or near real-time with respect to the presentation,
collaborative work session, etc.
[0096] In step 706, the expression converter 620 may determine
whether or not any visual display devices 640 are present in the
system 600 to receive the mathematical expression output. Thus,
step 706 may be performed similarly to step 703. For example, the
expression converter 620 may determine in step 706 whether any user
devices 106 participating in an online presentation session,
eLearning lecture or interactive learning session, interactive
gaming session, or collaborative remote work session, are visual
display devices 640. If a system 600 includes one or more currently
active visual display devices 640 (706:Yes), then the expression
converter 620 may determine that visual mathematical expression
output (e.g., presentation markup) should be generated and output
to these devices 640. However, if no visual display devices 640 are
currently receiving and/or participating in the communication
session (706:No), then the expression converter 620 may determine
not to generate presentation markup as output. Additionally, as
described above for step 703, step 706 also may be optional in some
embodiments, and the expression converter 620 may determine that
visual output (e.g., presentation markup) should be generated in
all cases. Thus, in such embodiments, the expression converter 620
need not be aware of which user devices 106 (if any) are receiving,
participating in the session, or otherwise consuming the content
resources including the mathematical expression input received in
step 701.
[0097] In step 707, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the content markup data generated in
step 702 to convert the content markup to presentation markup. To
perform the conversion in step 707, the expression converter 620
may invoke the content markup-to-presentation markup converter 623
and/or the applicable expression conversion rules for content
markup-to-presentation markup conversion from an expression
conversion rules data store 625. In contrast to the content markup,
the presentation markup for a mathematical expression may define a
specified formatting, style, and/or layout for representing
mathematical expressions based on the visual rendering and
displaying of the expressions on a display screen. Thus,
presentation markup may be structured using elements such as rows,
characters/symbols within rows, superscript and subscript
designations, square root symbols, and other similar elements which
define the visual rendering of the expression, rather than elements
corresponding to the expression tree structure of the mathematical
expression. Examples of different presentation markup definitions
that may be used in step 707 include any of presentation markup
specifications within the Mathematical Markup Language (MathML)
editions and/or versions defined by the World Wide Web Consortium
(W3C), although it should be understood that these examples are
illustrative only and non-limiting, and that other presentation
markup definitions or specifications may be used in other examples.
For instance, referring briefly to FIGS. 10B and 11B, two specific
examples of presentation markup are shown that may be generated in
step 707, based on content markup. The presentation markup shown in
these examples may correspond to the content markup shown in FIGS.
10A and 11A, respectively, and to the mathematical expressions
shown above each text box in these examples.
[0098] In step 708, the expression converter 620 may transmit the
presentation markup output to the appropriate visual display
devices 640. As noted above, the recipient devices 640 in step 708
may correspond to the set of visual display devices 640
participating in an online presentation session, eLearning lecture
or interactive learning session, interactive gaming session, or
collaborative remote work session, etc. Accordingly, the conversion
to presentation markup in step 707 and transmission in step 708 may
be performed in real-time or near real-time with respect to the
mathematical expression input received in step 701, so that visual
display devices 640 may receive and output the converted
presentation markup in real-time or near real-time with respect to
the presentation, collaborative work session, etc.
[0099] Referring now to FIG. 8, a flow diagram is shown
illustrating a process of converting mathematical expression data
received from a braille input device to braille output and/or
visual display output. In some embodiments, the steps described in
connection with FIG. 8 may be similar or identical to the steps
described in FIG. 7. However, in contrast to the FIG. 7, the
example described in FIG. 8 specifically describes scenarios in
which the mathematical expression input received includes braille
input characters received from a braille input device 430. As with
FIG. 7, discussed above, the steps in this process may be performed
by components in the mathematical expression conversion systems 600
described above, such as an expression converter 620 and/or various
input and output devices 610, 630, and 640, although the various
features and processes described herein need not be limited to the
specific systems and hardware implementations described above in
FIGS. 1-6.
[0100] In step 801, mathematical expression input data is received,
for example, by an expression converter 620. In this example, the
input data corresponds to one or more braille characters received
from a braille input device. As discussed above, certain
refreshable braille display devices 430 may also be braille input
devices, and such devices 430 may include braille keyboards and/or
other specialized components for receiving mathematical expression
input from visually impaired users. In other cases, braille input
devices need not include refreshable braille displays.
[0101] In some embodiments, step 801 may be similar or identical to
step 701, and any of the mathematical symbols and mathematical
expressions discussed above in reference to stop 701 may similarly
be received in step 801. For instance, if the expression input
device 610 discussed above is a braille input device 610, then the
mathematical expression input data received in step 701 may
correspond to braille input characters, but all other steps
discussed above in FIG. 7 may be performed similarly or
identically. In other cases, the braille input received in step 801
may correspond to a response or editing of the initial mathematical
expression input by a different user in step 701. For example, the
steps described in FIG. 7 may correspond to a process in which a
first user (e.g., a presenter, teacher, trainer, co-worker, etc.)
inputs a mathematical expression into a first device 610 within an
implementation of an educational or professional training software
system 600, an interactive gaming system 600, an online
presentation system 600, a collaborative work environment 600, or
the like, and the mathematical expression input is then converted
and transmitted to one or more additional display devices 630
and/or 640. Continuing this example, after the steps described in
FIG. 7 are performed, the steps described in FIG. 8 may be
performed, corresponding to a process in which a different user
responds to the initial communication of the first user by altering
or editing the initial mathematical expression (e.g., correcting
the work of the first user, making a suggestion of a different
mathematical expression, etc.), or by providing a different
responsive mathematical expression (e.g., answering a math question
contained in the initial communication), using a braille input
device (e.g., 430).
[0102] In step 802, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the braille input characters received
in step 801 to convert the mathematical expression to content
markup. To perform the conversion in step 802, the expression
converter 620 may invoke the braille-to-content markup converter
624 and/or the applicable expression conversion rules for
braille-to-content markup conversion from an expression conversion
rules data store 625. In some embodiments, the braille-to-content
markup conversion may be similar to the math-to-content markup
conversion described above in step 701, although braille characters
may be used as the initial input to the conversion process rather
than ASCII or Unicode characters. Additionally, in some
embodiments, the braille-to-content markup conversion process may
be similar but converse to the content markup-to-braille conversion
described above in 704. However, as noted above, each of the
separate converters 621-624 and/or conversion processes described
herein may use separate and unique conversion rules, including
character mapping rules (e.g., one-to-one, one-to-many, and
many-to-one character mappings) as well as special encoding and
decoding rules for mathematical expressions that do not correspond
to character mappings.
[0103] In step 803, the expression converter 620 may determine
whether or not any visual display devices 640 should receive the
mathematical expression output. Thus, step 803 may be similar or
identical to step 706, discussed above. For example, the expression
converter 620 may determine in step 803 whether any user devices
106 participating in an online presentation session, eLearning
lecture or interactive learning session, interactive gaming
session, or collaborative remote work session, are visual display
devices 640. If a system 600 includes one or more currently active
visual display devices 640 (803:Yes), then the expression converter
620 may determine that visual mathematical expression output (e.g.,
presentation markup) should be generated and output to these
devices 640. In such cases, in step 804, the expression converter
620 may execute one or more conversion processes on the content
markup data generated in step 802 to convert the content markup to
presentation markup. Then, in step 805, the expression converter
620 may transmit the presentation markup output to the appropriate
visual display devices 640. Steps 804 and 805 may be similar or
identical to steps 707 and 708, discussed above.
[0104] In step 806, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the content markup data generated in
step 802 to convert the content markup to braille output
characters. Then, in step 807, the expression converter 620 may
transmit the braille output characters to the appropriate
refreshable braille display devices 630. Thus, steps 806 and 807
may be similar or identical to steps 704 and 705, discussed
above.
[0105] It should be noted that the conversions described in this
example include a first conversion from braille input characters to
content markup in step 802, and a second conversion from the
content markup back to braille output characters in step 806.
Performing both of these conversions may be advantageous in some
cases, for example, if the mathematical expression input received
from the user device in step 801 is potentially mathematically
ambiguous, or if it is expressed in a non-standard and/or
non-uniform way. For instance, if the user inputs a mathematical
expression such as "a+b" or "a(b)" it may be unclear whether the
expression represents a number or a function. Similarly, a user may
input any number of potentially ambiguous mathematical expressions,
such as "sin xy", "sin 2 x", "a/2n", or various other ambiguous
expressions that have multiple possible intended meanings. By
converting the braille input characters first to content markup in
step 802, and then back to braille output characters in step 806,
any potential ambiguity within the expression may be resolved
during the conversion to content markup in step 802, and the
braille output representation of the mathematical expression
transmitted in step 807 will thus be identical for all braille
display devices 430a-430c. By resolving the potential ambiguities
in the mathematical expression during the conversion processes, and
by providing for uniformity in braille output display, situations
may result in which the braille input characters received from a
braille device 430a in step 801 do not precisely match the braille
output characters transmitted back to the same braille device 430a
in step 807.
[0106] Moreover, it may be assumed in this example that the braille
input device from which the mathematical expression input was
received in step 801 will also be a refreshable braille display
device on which the mathematical expression should be displayed in
step 807. Accordingly, this example process does not include a step
corresponding to step 703, in which the expression converter 620
determines whether there are any refreshable braille display
devices 630 that should receive the braille output characters.
[0107] Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram is shown
illustrating a process of converting mathematical expression data
received from a visual display device to visual display output
and/or braille output. The steps described in connection with FIG.
8 may be similar or identical to the steps described in FIGS. 7-8.
In contrast to the FIG. 8, the example described in FIG. 9
specifically describes scenarios in which the mathematical
expression input received includes non-braille input characters
received from the input components of a visual display device 440,
such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, and/or specialized
mathematics software. As with FIGS. 7-8, discussed above, the steps
in this process may be performed by components in the mathematical
expression conversion systems 600 described above, such as an
expression converter 620 and/or various input and output devices
610, 630, and 640, although the various features and processes
described herein need not be limited to the specific systems and
hardware implementations described above in FIGS. 1-6.
[0108] In step 901, mathematical expression input data is received,
for example, by an expression converter 620. In this example, the
input data corresponds to one or more non-braille mathematical
symbols (or characters) received from the inputs of a visual
display device 640. Step 901 may be similar or identical to step
701, and any of the mathematical symbols and mathematical
expressions discussed above in reference to stop 701 may similarly
be received in step 901. In some cases, the steps described in FIG.
7 may correspond to a process in which a first user (e.g., a
presenter, teacher, trainer, co-worker, etc.) inputs a mathematical
expression into a first device 610 within an implementation of an
educational or professional training software system 600, an
interactive gaming system 600, an online presentation system 600, a
collaborative work environment 600, or the like, and the
mathematical expression input is then converted and transmitted to
one or more additional display devices 630 and/or 640. Continuing
this example, after the steps described in FIG. 7 are performed,
the steps described in FIG. 9 may be performed, corresponding to a
process in which a different user responds to the initial
communication of the first user by altering or editing the initial
mathematical expression (e.g., correcting the work of the first
user, making a suggestion of a different mathematical expression,
etc.), or by providing a different responsive mathematical
expression (e.g., answering a math question contained in the
initial communication), using a visual display device 440.
[0109] In step 902, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the mathematical input characters
received in step 901 to convert the mathematical expression to
content markup. The conversion processes used in step 902 may be
similar or identical to the conversion processes used in step 702,
discussed above, the expression converter 620 may invoke the same
math-to-content markup converter 621 and/or the same applicable
expression conversion rules for math-to-content markup conversion
from an expression conversion rules data store 625.
[0110] In step 903, the expression converter 620 may determine
whether or not any refreshable braille display devices 630 should
receive the mathematical expression output. Thus, step 903 may be
similar or identical to step 703, discussed above. For example, the
expression converter 620 may determine in step 903 whether any user
devices 106 participating in an online presentation session,
eLearning lecture or interactive learning session, interactive
gaming session, or collaborative remote work session, are braille
display devices 630. If a system 600 includes one or more currently
active braille display devices 630 (903:Yes), then the expression
converter 620 may determine that a braille representation of the
mathematical expression should be generated and output to these
devices 630. In such cases, in step 904, the expression converter
620 may execute one or more conversion processes on the content
markup data generated in step 902 to convert the content markup to
braille output characters. Then, in step 905, the expression
converter 620 may transmit the braille output characters
representing the mathematical expression to the appropriate
refreshable braille display devices 630. Steps 904 and 905 may be
similar or identical to steps 704 and 705, discussed above.
[0111] In step 906, the expression converter 620 may execute one or
more conversion processes on the content markup data generated in
step 802 to convert the content markup to presentation markup.
Then, in step 907, the expression converter 620 may transmit the
presentation markup output to the appropriate visual display
devices 640. Thus, steps 906 and 907 may be similar or identical to
steps 707 and 708, discussed above.
[0112] As discussed above for FIG. 8, it should be noted that the
conversions described in FIG. 9 include a first conversion from
mathematical input characters to content markup in step 902, and a
second conversion from the content markup back to visual output
(e.g., presentation markup) in step 906. Performing both of these
conversions may be advantageous for resolving potential ambiguities
within the mathematical expression input data received in step 901,
as well providing a standard and uniform set of visual output to
all visual display devices 640, as discussed above. Moreover, it
may be assumed in this example that the visual input device from
which the mathematical expression input was received in step 901
will also be a visual display device on which the mathematical
expression should be displayed in step 907. Accordingly, this
example process does not include a step corresponding to step 706,
in which the expression converter 620 determines whether there are
any visual display devices 440 that should receive the presentation
markup representing the mathematical expression.
[0113] Referring now to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14A-14C, several example
user interface screens are shown from a braille conversion
application. The braille conversion application shown in these
examples may be implemented using an underlying expression
converter 620, discussed above, which may be configured to convert
braille mathematical expression input to text (e.g., presentation
markup) output, as well as text or other visual mathematical
expression input to braille output. In these examples, each user
interface displays an upper text input/output window 1210 and a
lower braille input/output window 1220. When a user inputs
mathematical characters into the text window 1210 using the math
symbol selection panel 1230, the underlying expression converter
620 may perform one or more of the mathematical expression
conversion processes described below in reference to FIGS. 7-9. For
example, in response to one or more mathematical characters being
input, revised, or deleted from the text window 1210, the
expression converter 620 may perform a first conversion of the
entire expression within the text window 1210 from mathematical
input into content markup, followed by a second conversion of the
newly generated content markup into braille output characters for
display within the braille window 1220. Similarly, in response to
one or more braille characters being input, revised, or deleted
from the braille window 1220, the expression converter 620 may
perform a first conversion of the entire mathematical expression
within the braille window 1220 from braille input characters into
content markup, followed by a second conversion of the newly
generated content markup into presentation markup for display
within the text window 1210. Additionally, it should be understood
that the braille input/output window 1220 is displayed visually in
these examples in order to better illustrate the conversion
processes and the braille encoding and decoding rules implemented
by the expression converter 620. However, in other examples, the
braille window 1220 may correspond to one or more separate
refreshable braille display devices 430, and the text window 1210
may correspond to one or more visual display devices 440.
[0114] In FIG. 12, the four mathematical characters "a(x)" have
been input either into the text window 1210 or the braille window
1220, and the expression converter 620 has performed the conversion
processes described above to generate and transmit the
corresponding output into the other window. FIG. 13 shows a more
complex mathematical expression, but a similar or the same
conversion processes may be used by the expression converter 620 to
convert from braille input to visual output, or vice versa. In
these examples, symmetrical character mapping rules may be applied
by the expression converter 620 during the braille-to-content
markup and content markup-to-braille conversions. For example,
certain mathematical symbols may be mapped to single braille
characters by the expression converter 620, while other
mathematical symbols may be mapped to combinations of braille
characters.
[0115] FIGS. 14A-14C show another example in which a user is
inputting a sequence of mathematical characters either into the
text window 1210 or the braille window 1220, and the expression
converter 620 has been invoked at each step to perform the
conversion processes described above to generate and transmit the
corresponding output into the other window. These figures also
illustrate examples of special braille encoding and decoding rules
that do not correspond to character mapping rules. Special rules
may be designed and applied by the expression converter 620 to
avoid ambiguities within the converted mathematical expressions,
and to address special braille encoding and decoding situations
that may arise. As noted above, each different converter 621-624
and/or conversion process described herein may invoke its own set
of special rules for braille encoding and decoding.
[0116] In FIG. 14A, an absolute value operation "|x|" is shown in
text window 1210, and the three corresponding braille characters
(i.e., a first vertical bar braille character (dot-1256), a braille
letter "x", and then a second vertical bar braille character
(dot-1256)) are shown in the braille window 1220. In FIG. 14B, two
consecutive absolute value operations "|x.parallel.y|" are shown in
text window 1210, and the corresponding braille window 1220 shows
the corresponding braille characters for the two consecutive
absolute value operations, separated by a multi-purpose indicator
1221. As seen in this example, the multi-purpose indicator 1221 is
represented by a single dot braille character (dot-5). The reason
for the multi-purpose indicator 1221 is to resolve avoid the
potential ambiguity of two consecutive vertical bar braille
characters (e.g., (dot-1256) (dot-1256)), which may otherwise
indicate a mathematical norm operator ".parallel.". It should be
understood that this example is illustrative only and non-limiting,
and that other multi-purpose indicators 1221 may be inserted during
the processes of converting mathematical expressions into braille
or from braille, in order to avoid any other potential ambiguities
within the braille output or visual output. Additionally, although
the multi-purpose indicator 1221 is a single dot braille character
(dot-5), it should be understood that other characters or
combinations of characters may be used to avoid ambiguities in
other examples. In FIG. 14C, additional input has been added to
transform the expression in FIG. 14B to an equation
"|x.parallel.y|=.parallel..quadrature..parallel.". This figure
again shows the use of the multi-purpose indicator 1221 to
distinguish two consecutive absolute value operators from a norm
operator. Additionally, in this example, a special spacing rule has
been applied by the expression converter 620, in which a space
characters 1212 and 1222 have been added to each side of the equal
sign in both the visual output and the braille output. The spacing
rule in this example may be enforced by the expression converter
620 to avoid ambiguity, increase readability of the braille output
characters, and also to provide uniformity between the braille
output and the visual output.
[0117] Any number of other examples of special braille encoding
and/or decoding rules may be implemented in other embodiments. For
example, special rules for converting mathematical expressions
containing nested fractions into braille and/or from braille may be
implemented in some cases. For instance, in some embodiments, an
expression converter 620 may convert a simple fraction (i.e., a
fraction that does not itself contain a fraction) using a fraction
indicator braille character, a fraction bar braille character, and
a fraction terminator braille character, while a complex fraction
(i.e., a fraction that contains at least one other fraction) may
use additional nested fraction indicator braille characters. Thus,
the simple fraction 3/4 may be encoded into braille as: [fraction
indicator character] 3 [fraction bar character] 4 [fraction
terminator character], while the complex fraction (2/3)/4 may be
encoded into braille as [nested fraction indicator character]
[fraction indicator character] 2 [fraction bar character] 3
[fraction terminator character] [nested fraction bar character] 4
[nest fraction terminator character]. For illustrative purposes
only, the fraction indicator may be represented by the braille
character (dot-1456), and the nested fraction indicator may be
represented by the braille character string (dot-6) (dot-1456). To
represent each additional enclosed fraction, an additional (dot-6)
braille character may be added to the fraction indicator, the
fraction bar, and the fraction terminator, in these examples.
[0118] A set of special braille encoding and/or decoding rules may
be implemented for handling nested roots, similar to rules
discussed above for handling nested fractions. For example,
additional nested root indicator braille characters may be defined,
and an extra braille character (e.g., dot-46) may be added to the
open and close root indicators for each enclosed (not enclosing)
root. Accordingly, the deeper into a nested root expression, the
more dots that will be used to encode the root operator.
Additionally, special encoding and/or decoding rules may be used
for representing braille subscripts and/or superscripts in some
embodiments. For example, the standard braille encodings for
superscripts and subscripts may be "x i" and "x sub i"
respectively. However, in some cases, abbreviated braille encodings
may be used for subscripts and/or superscripts when the subscript
or superscript is a numeral. Thus, expressions like "x 2" and "x
sub 4" might each be represented by only two braille characters in
some cases.
[0119] It should be understood that the above examples of special
braille encoding rules for mathematical expressions are
illustrative only and non-limiting, and that other special braille
encoding rules may be implemented in other examples in order to
avoid ambiguities within the mathematical expressions, improve
readability of the braille output or visual output, or provide
uniformity between the braille and visual outputs. Additionally,
different sets of encoding and decoding rules may be implemented
for conversions between braille input and visual output, and vice
versa.
[0120] A number of variations and modifications of the disclosed
embodiments can also be used. Specific details are given in the
above description to provide a thorough understanding of the
embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be
practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known
circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques may be
shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the
embodiments.
[0121] Implementation of the techniques, blocks, steps and means
described above may be done in various ways. For example, these
techniques, blocks, steps and means may be implemented in hardware,
software, or a combination thereof. For a hardware implementation,
the processing units may be implemented within one or more
application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal
processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),
programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays
(FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers,
microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the
functions described above, and/or a combination thereof.
[0122] Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a
process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a swim
diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block
diagram. Although a depiction may describe the operations as a
sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in
parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations
may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are
completed, but could have additional steps not included in the
figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a
procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process
corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return
of the function to the calling function or the main function.
[0123] Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware,
software, scripting languages, firmware, middleware, microcode,
hardware description languages, and/or any combination thereof.
When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, scripting
language, and/or microcode, the program code or code segments to
perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a machine readable
medium such as a storage medium. A code segment or
machine-executable instruction may represent a procedure, a
function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a
module, a software package, a script, a class, or any combination
of instructions, data structures, and/or program statements. A code
segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware
circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments,
parameters, and/or memory contents. Information, arguments,
parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via
any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token
passing, network transmission, etc.
[0124] For a firmware and/or software implementation, the
methodologies may be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures,
functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein.
Any machine-readable medium tangibly embodying instructions may be
used in implementing the methodologies described herein. For
example, software codes may be stored in a memory. Memory may be
implemented within the processor or external to the processor. As
used herein the term "memory" refers to any type of long term,
short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other storage medium and is
not to be limited to any particular type of memory or number of
memories, or type of media upon which memory is stored.
[0125] Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term "storage medium" may
represent one or more memories for storing data, including read
only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core
memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums,
flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for
storing information. The term "machine-readable medium" includes,
but is not limited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical
storage devices, and/or various other storage mediums capable of
storing that contain or carry instruction(s) and/or data.
[0126] While the principles of the disclosure have been described
above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to
be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of
example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *