Learning support system

• US 20030046057A1
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kutsumi, Takeshi, Shinozaki, Naoko, Sata, Ichiko, Okunishi, Toshiyuki, Nishiura, Kazuo, Fukumochi, Yoji
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• 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

A learning support system has an information processing apparatus, a portable information terminal and a learning management server which are connected through a network. The information processing apparatus includes a second memory unit for storing first learning information which includes result of learning, and the portable information terminal includes a fourth memory unit for storing second learning information which includes result of learning at the portable information terminal, and the learning management server includes a fifth memory unit for storing the first learning information transferred from the information processing apparatus and the second learning information transferred from the portable information terminal. The information processing apparatus or the portable information terminal carries out continuous learning after learning information of other party is acquired through the fifth memory unit.

Claims

1. A learning support system comprising:

an information processing apparatus,

a portable information terminal, and

a learning management server, the information processing apparatus, the portable information terminal and the learning management server being connected through a network,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a first memory unit for storing first learning contents which comprise a learning program and data for use in learning, a second memory unit for storing first learning information which includes at least result of learning, a first control unit for executing the learning program, and a first communication unit for communicating with the learning management server,

the portable information terminal comprises a third memory unit for storing second learning contents which comprise a portable use learning program and data for use in learning, a fourth memory unit for storing second learning information which includes at least result of learning at the portable information terminal, a second control unit for executing the portable use learning program and a second communication unit for communicating with the learning management server,

the learning management server comprises a third communication unit for communicating with the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal, and a fifth memory unit for storing the first learning information which is transferred from the information processing apparatus and the second learning information which is transferred from the portable information terminal, and

the information processing apparatus or the portable information terminal carries out learning by the first control unit or the second control unit, after learning information of other party is acquired through the fifth memory unit.

2. A learning support system of claim 1, wherein the learning management server further comprises a sixth memory unit for storing the first and second learning contents, and in case that a user purchases the first and second learning contents, the learning management server is connected through the network to a content server which stores the first and second learning contents, the first and second learning contents are acquired from the content server and stored in the sixth memory unit, and the stored first and second learning contents are transferred to the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal, respectively.

3. A learning support system of claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises a first input unit, and in case that an instruction to complete learning or to discontinue learning is inputted by the first input unit, the first learning information which has been stored in the second memory unit is transferred to the learning management server through the first communication unit, and after the transferred first learning information is stored in the fifth memory unit by the learning management server, the first learning information stored in the fifth memory unit is acquired by the portable information terminal through the second communication unit and stored in the fourth memory unit, and continuous learning is carried out by the second control unit.

4. A learning support system of claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal further comprises a second input unit, and in case that an instruction to complete learning or to discontinue learning is inputted by the second input unit, the second learning information which has been stored in the fourth memory unit is transferred to the learning management server through the second communication unit, and after the transferred second learning information is stored in the fifth memory unit by the learning management server, the second learning information stored in the fifth memory unit is stored in the second memory unit or the fourth memory unit by the information processing apparatus or the portable information terminal, and continuous learning is carried out by the first control unit or the second control unit.

5. A learning support system of claim 1, wherein the learning management server further comprises a seventh memory unit for storing pre-registered user information, the portable information terminal comprises a plurality of portable information terminals whose users are different, and in case that the first learning information which is transferred to the fifth memory unit of the learning management server includes specific user information, the first learning information is transferred only to a portable information terminal which corresponds to user information that is stored in the seventh memory unit and coincides with the specific user information, and continuous learning is carried out by the second control unit at the corresponding portable information terminal.

6. A learning support system comprising:

an information processing apparatus,

a portable information terminal, and

a learning management server, the information processing apparatus, the portable information terminal and the learning management server being connected through a network,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a first input unit, a first memory unit for storing first learning contents which comprise a learning program and data for use in learning, a second memory unit for storing first learning information which includes at least result of learning, a first control unit for executing the learning program,

an information memory unit comprising first information of index words and second information associated with the index words,

a first communication unit for transferring a first learning information which is test preparation use information for the portable information terminal to the learning management server and for receiving a second learning information which is result of learning at the portable information terminal from the learning management server,

a search unit for searching the information memory unit by an index word which is inputted from the input unit, a temporary storage unit for storing the second information associated with the index word which is searched by the search unit, a data acquiring unit for acquiring data necessary for learning in the second information stored in the temporary storage unit, a file preparation unit for preparing a search information file which includes data acquired by the data acquiring unit and the inputted index word, and a first test preparation unit for preparing the first learning contents by use of the search information file prepared by the file preparation unit,

the portable information terminal comprises a third memory unit for storing second learning contents which comprise a portable use learning program and data for use in learning, a fourth memory unit for storing second learning information which includes at least result of learning at the portable information terminal, a second control unit for executing the portable use learning program and a second communication unit for receiving the first learning information from the learning management server and for transferring the second learning information to the learning management server, and a second test preparation unit for preparing the second learning contents associated with the first learning information and for storing the second learning contents in the third memory unit, and

the learning management server comprises a third communication unit for communicating with the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal, and a fifth memory unit for storing the first learning information which is transferred from the information processing apparatus and the second learning information which is transferred from the portable information terminal, and

the information processing apparatus or the portable information terminal carries out learning by the first control unit or the second control unit, after learning information of other party is acquired through the fifth memory unit.

7. An information processing apparatus comprising a first memory unit for storing first learning contents which comprise a learning program and data for use in learning, a second memory unit for storing first learning information which includes at least result of learning, a first control unit for executing the learning program, and a first communication unit for communicating with a learning management server, wherein the first learning information which has been stored in the second memory unit is transferred to the learning management server through the first communication unit, and after the second learning information received from the learning management server through the first communication unit is stored in the second memory unit, and continuous learning is carried out by the first control unit and the information processing apparatus uses for the learning support system including a learning management server and a portable information terminal.

8. An information processing apparatus of claim 7 comprising a first input unit for inputting characters and marks, a first display unit for displaying a text, an information memory unit comprising first information of index words and second information associated with the index words, a search unit for searching the information memory unit by an index word which is inputted from the input unit, a temporary storage unit for storing the second information associated with the index word which is searched by the search unit, a data acquiring unit for acquiring data necessary for learning in the second information stored in the temporary storage unit, a file preparation unit for preparing a search information file which includes data acquired by the data acquiring unit and the inputted index word, and a test preparation unit for preparing a first learning contents by use of the search information file prepared by the file preparation unit.

9. An information processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein in case that the first information is an index of a word, the data acquiring unit acquires head translation of each acceptation or head translation of head acceptation which is included in the second information associated with the searched index word.

10. An information processing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data acquiring unit acquires a sentence which includes the inputted index word in the text displayed on the first display unit.

11. An information processing apparatus of claim 8, 9 or 10, further comprising a learning information preparation unit for preparing a learning information file to prepare a test for learning, in which the learning information preparation unit prepares a learning information file which includes at least an index word, data acquired by the data acquiring unit, and the number of searches for the index word with regard to the index word which is included in the search information file, and in case that the index word is already included in the learning information file, the number of searches is updated.

12. An information processing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the learning information file includes master information which is given based upon master instruction inputted from the first input unit with respect to each index word and its master date, and in case that an index word which is already registered in the learning information file and to which master information is given is searched by the search unit, the learning information preparation unit deletes master information which corresponds to the index word from the learning information file, and an alarm which shows that the index word has already mastered is displayed on the first display unit.

13. An information processing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a taken-out information setting unit for setting a criterion which determines information to be taken out from the search information file, and an information selecting unit for selecting information to be taken out based upon the criterion which is set by the taken-out information setting unit.

14. A portable information terminal comprising a third memory unit for storing second learning contents which comprise a portable use learning program and data for use in learning, a fourth memory unit for storing second learning information which includes at least result of learning at the portable information terminal, a second control unit for executing the portable use learning program and a second communication unit for communicating with the learning management server, wherein the second learning information which has been stored in the fourth memory unit is transferred to the leaning management server through the second communication unit, and after the first learning information received from the learning management server through the second communication unit is stored in the third memory, and the learning carries out by the second control unit, and the portable information terminal uses for the learning support system including a learning management server and an information processing apparatus.

15. A portable information terminal of claim 14 comprising an information receiving unit for receiving a plurality of kinds of the first learning information, a test preparation unit for preparing a second learning contents of a test in accordance with the first learning information, and a second display unit for displaying display contents which include the prepared second learning contents on a screen.

16. A portable information terminal of claim 15 further comprising a second input unit for inputting an answer and an answer evaluation unit for evaluating the inputted answer and displaying evaluation result on the second display unit.

17. A portable information terminal of claim 15 or 16 further comprising a display content adjustment unit for adjusting the display contents to be displayed on the second display unit in such a manner that the display contents are displayed within one screen of the second display unit.

18. A portable information terminal of claim 15, wherein in case that the received test preparation use information comprises a plurality of index words, translations and semantic attributes which correspond to each index word, the test preparation unit prepares a second learning contents of a test in which a correct translation is asked to be selected from a translation of one index word and a plurality of translations which have the same semantic attribute with regard to one index word.

19. A portable information terminal of claim 15, wherein in case that the received test preparation use information comprises an index word and a text which includes the index word, the test preparation unit searches and deletes the index word from the text and prepares a second learning contents of a test in which the text with the deleted index word is asked to be filled in with the index word.

20. A portable information terminal of claim 15, wherein in case that the received test preparation use information includes a plurality of index words and a translation which corresponds to one of the index words, the test preparation unit prepares a second learning contents of a test in which an index word corresponding to the translation is asked to be selected from said plurality of index words.

21. A portable information terminal of claim 15, wherein in case that the received test preparation use information comprises an index word and a text which includes the index word and an identification mark is added to the index word in the text, the test preparation unit deletes the index word having the identification mark from the text and prepares a second learning contents of a test in which the text with the deleted index word is asked to be filled in with the index word.

22. A portable information terminal of claim 15, wherein in case that the received test preparation use information comprises an index word, a text which includes the index word and a plurality of other index words, the test preparation unit deletes the index word in the text and prepares a second learning contents of a test in which a correct index word is asked to be selected from the deleted index word and said plurality of other index words and the deleted portion of the text is asked to be filled in with the selected index word.

23. A portable information terminal of claim 15, wherein in case that the received test preparation use information comprises an index word and its translation, the test preparation unit prepares a second learning contents of a test in which the translation of the index word is asked to be answered.

24. A learning management server connecting an information processing apparatus and a portable information terminal through a network and comprising a third communication unit for communicating with the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal, and a fifth memory unit for storing a first learning information which is transferred from the information processing apparatus and a second learning information which is transferred from the portable information terminal, and the learning management server transfers the first learning information to the portable information terminal through the third communication unit, and transfers the second learning information to the information processing apparatus through the third communication unit.

25. A learning management server of claim 24, wherein the learning management server further comprises a sixth memory unit for storing the first and second learning contents, and in case that a user purchases the first and second learning contents, the learning management server is connected through the network to a content server which stores the first and second learning contents, the first and second learning contents are acquired from the content server and stored in the sixth memory unit, and the stored first and second learning contents are transferred to the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal, respectively.

26. A learning management server of claim 24 or 25, wherein the learning management server further comprises a seventh memory unit for storing pre-registered user information, and in case that the first learning information which is transferred to the fifth memory unit of the learning management server includes specific user information, the first learning information is transferred only to a portable information terminal which corresponds to user information that is stored in the seventh memory unit and coincides with the specific user information.

27. A storage medium containing a computer program for causing an information processing apparatus to function, the information processing apparatus being for use in the learning support system including a learning management server and a portable information terminal, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a first memory unit for storing first learning contents which comprise a learning program and data for use in learning, a second memory unit for storing first learning information which includes at least result of learning, a first control unit for executing the learning program, and a first communication unit for communicating with a learning management server, and the first learning information which has been stored in the second memory unit is transferred to the learning management server through the first communication unit, and after the second learning information received from the learning management server through the first communication unit is stored in the second memory unit, and continuous learning is carried out by the first control unit.

28. A storage medium containing a computer program for causing a portable information terminal to function, the portable information terminal being for use in the learning support system including a learning management server and an information processing apparatus, wherein the portable information terminal comprises a third memory unit for storing second learning contents which comprise a portable use learning program and data for use in learning, a fourth memory unit for storing second learning information which includes at least result of learning at the portable information terminal, a second control unit for executing the portable use learning program and a second communication unit for communicating with the learning management server, and the second learning information which has been stored in the fourth memory unit is transferred to the learning management server through the second communication unit, and after the first learning information received from the learning management server through the second communication unit is stored in the third memory.

29. A storage medium containing a computer program for causing a learning management server to function, the learning management server being for use in the learning support system including an information processing apparatus and a portable information terminal, wherein the learning management server connects the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal through a network and comprises a third communication unit for communicating with the information processing apparatus and the portable information terminal, and a fifth memory unit for storing a first learning information which is transferred from the information processing apparatus and a second learning information which is transferred from the portable information terminal, and the learning management server transfers the first learning information to the portable information terminal through the third communication unit, and transfers the second learning information to the information processing apparatus through the third communication unit.