Apparatus and method for timing events

• US 20040008589A1
• Filed: 06/20/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Erik A. Mcmillan, Mark W. Blecher
• Original Assignee: Erik A. Mcmillan, Mark W. Blecher
• Inventors: McMillan, Erik A., Blecher, Mark W.
• Application Number:
  US10/600,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008589A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/223
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/00 Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people registering or indicating the working of machines or vehicles G07C3/00, G07C5/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for timing events and sub-events. A timer allows a user to time the duration of an event. During the event, sub-events may also be timed, by use of a sub-event trigger (e.g., a sub-event button). A display can display information relating to the timed event and sub-event. For example, the timer may display the time elapsed or time remaining in the event, the number of past sub-events, the number of remaining sub-events, and/or statistical information relating to the timed event and sub-events. One application of the timer is as an aid to a person practicing for, or taking, a standardized test.

Claims

1. A method of displaying examination information during one or more portions of an examination, comprising the steps of:

providing a timer for timing the duration of a portion of the examination;

tracking the number of questions answered by a user during the portion of the examination; and

displaying information relating to both the time remaining in the portion of the examination and to the number of questions remaining in the portion of the examination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed information includes an average amount of time remaining per remaining questions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed information is a number equal to the time remaining divided by the number of remaining questions.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the amount of time elapsed during the portion of the examination.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the amount of time remaining in the portion of the examination.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the number of questions answered.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying the number of questions remaining.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing memory for storing information relating to one or more specific standardized examinations.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the duration of and the number of questions in the portion of the examination is stored in the memory.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein information relating to a plurality of specific standardized examinations is stored in the memory, the method further comprising the step of allowing a user to select predetermined parameters for an examination based on the stored information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of activating a visual indicator to alert a user of an event relating to the operation of the timer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user is alerted without using an audible device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on a computer monitor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is displayed on a display of an electronic device.

15. A timer for timing an event comprising:

a display;

one or more buttons for allowing a user to start and stop the timer; and

a visual indicator for alerting a user to an event, wherein the user is alerted without using an audible device.

16. The timer of claim 15, further comprising a sub-event button for allowing a user to time sub-events by pressing the sub-event button during the timed event.

17. The timer of claim 16, wherein the display displays information relating to the duration of a sub-event.

18. The timer of claim 17, wherein the display displays an average amount of time allowed for future sub-events during the timed event.

19. The timer of claim 16, wherein the display displays the number of past sub-events.

20. The timer of claim 15, wherein the display displays the number of future sub-events.

21. The timer of claim 16, wherein the display displays statistical information related to the timed event the sub-events

22. A method of displaying information during a timed event having sub-events, comprising the steps of:

providing a timer for timing the duration of the event;

tracking the number of sub-events during the event; and

displaying information relating to both the time remaining in the event and to the number of sub-events.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the displayed information includes an average amount of time remaining per remaining sub-event.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the displayed information includes the number of past sub-events.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the displayed information includes the number of sub-events left during the timed event.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of activating a visual indicator to alert a user of the end of a timed period.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the user is alerted without using sound.