Pre-availability of a lecture to promote interactivity

• US 20040205130A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Banerjee, Dwip N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method, computer program, and data processing system for promoting an interactive discussion of lecture notes prior to an actual lecture using those notes is disclosed. An first client uploads lecture notes for perusal by students. If a student has a question regarding a particular section of the lecture notes, the student can post a question directed to that particular section of the notes. The first client is alerted that a question has been posted and may respond by modifying or augmenting the lecture notes as appropriate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a set of documents from a first client, wherein the documents include a plurality of sections;

displaying the set of documents to at least one second client;

receiving, from the at least one second client, a question relating to a section from the plurality of sections;

modifying the set of documents to include the question;

receiving modifications from the first client; and

applying the modifications to the set of documents.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

in response to receiving the question, alerting the first client.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first client is alerted via electronic mail.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first client is alerted via instant message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the documents are displayed in a web browser.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the documents are displayed on a mobile computing device.

7. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for:

receiving a set of documents from an first client, wherein the documents include a plurality of sections;

displaying the set of documents to at least one second client;

receiving, from the at least one second client, a question relating to a section from the plurality of sections;

modifying the set of documents to include the question;

receiving first client modifications from the first client; and

applying the first client modifications to the documents.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, comprising additional instructions for:

in response to receiving the question, alerting the first client.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first client is alerted via electronic mail.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the first client is alerted via instant message.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the set of documents is displayed in a web browser.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the set of documents is displayed on a mobile computing device.

13. A data processing system comprising:

a bus system;

a processing unit, including at least one processor and connected to the bus system;

memory connected to the bus system; and

a set of instructions,

wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to perform the acts of;

receiving a set of documents from an first client, wherein the documents include a plurality of sections;

displaying the set of documents to at least one second client;

receiving, from the at least one second client, a question relating to a section from the plurality of sections;

modifying the set of documents to include the question;

receiving first client modifications from the first client; and

applying the first client modifications to the documents.

14. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to perform the act of:

in response to receiving the question, alerting the first client.

15. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the first client is alerted via electronic mail.

16. The data processing system of claim 14, wherein the first client is alerted via instant message.

17. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the documents are displayed in a web browser.

18. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the documents are displayed on a mobile computing device.

19. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the data processing system is connected to a network.

20. The data processing system of claim 13, wherein the network is a wireless network.