METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTER BASED TRAINING RELATING TO DEVICES

• US 20020072048A1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skillsoft Ireland Limited (SkillSoft Limited)
• Original Assignee: Element K Online LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: SLATTERY, TERRANCE C., COVILLE, SHAWN G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,514,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/335
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

Methods and Systems for training a user regarding controlling a device. Through these methods and systems a user may remotely access a device in order to perform an assignment or task designed to train the user in the operation of the device. The user is able to access the devices through a user computer that is remotely connected to a pod controller. This connection may traverse a Internet or Intra-net, or it may be a direct connection. The pod controller receives device control information sent from the user and translates it so it can be directly fed into the device, thus, providing the user with actual control over the device.

Claims

1. A system for training a user regarding controlling of a device, comprising:

a user computer for accepting device control information regarding controlling the device for the purposes of training; and

a device controller remotely connected to the user computer, including

means for receiving the device control information, and

means for transferring the device control information to the device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a server/controller, including

means for receiving access information sent by the user from the user computer, and

means for transferring information to the device controller regarding user access.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the user computer and the device controller are connected over an Internet.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user computer and the device controller are connected over an Intranet.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising

a firewall between the Internet and device controller;

and

a server/controller, including

means for receiving access information sent by the user from the user computer,

means for transferring information to the device controller regarding user access, and

means for transferring information to the firewall regarding permitting the user to access the device controller.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the device controller further includes

a wiretap including means for permitting a mentor computer to receive information transferred from the user computer to the device.

7. A method for training a user regarding controlling a device, comprising:

a user remotely connecting to a device controller using a user computer;

the user computer transferring device control information regarding control of the device to a device controller; and

the device controller transferring the device control information to the device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

the user computer transferring user access information to a server/controller regarding user access; and

the server controller transferring information to the device controller regarding user access.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of the user computer transferring device control information regarding control of the device to the device controller includes transferring the device control information over an Internet.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of the user computer transferring device control information regarding control of the device to the device controller includes transferring the device control information over an Intranet.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein there is a firewall between the Internet and the device controller, further comprising:

the user computer transferring user access information to a server/controller regarding user access;

the server/controller transferring information to the device controller regarding user access; and

the server/controller transferring information to the firewall regarding permitting the user to access the device controller.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the device controller includes a wiretap, further comprising:

the wiretap receiving user information transferred from the user computer to the device; and

the wiretap transferring the user information to a mentor computer so a mentor can monitor the user information.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising

a server/controller, including

a processor for receiving access information sent by the user from the user computer, and

a communications port for transferring information to the device controller regarding user access.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user computer and the device controller are connected over an Internet.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the user computer and the device controller are connected over an Intranet.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising

a firewall between the Internet and device controller;

and

a server/controller, including

a communications port for receiving access information sent by the user from the user computer, transferring information to the device controller regarding user access, and transferring information to the firewall regarding permitting the user to access the device controller.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the device controller further includes

a wiretap for permitting a mentor computer to receive information transferred from the user computer to the device.

20. The device controller of claim 19, wherein the device controller is remotely connected to a user computer.

21. The device controller of claim 19, wherein the device controller is connected to a server and controller.

22. The device controller of claim 19, further including a wiretap for receiving user information transferred from the user computer to the device;

and transferring the user information to a mentor computer so a mentor can monitor the user information.

13. A system for training a user regarding controlling of a device, comprising:

a user computer for accepting device control information regarding controlling the device for the purposes of training; and

a device controller remotely connected to the user computer, including

a processor for receiving the device control information, and

an interface for transferring the device control information to the device.

19. A device controller for training a user regarding controlling of a device, comprising:

a processor for receiving device control information from a user computer remotely connected to the device controller, wherein the received device control information is for the training of a user relating to the device, and for translating the received device control information; and

an interface for transferring the device control information to the device.