Mobile teaching system

• US 20050110461A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earthlink Communications
• Original Assignee: Earthlink Communications
• Inventors: Smith, Bryan, McConnell, Evan, Tomarchio, Anthony, Vanderlip, Robert G., Caporaletti, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/56 Computers; Screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile teaching system is disclosed which allows the use of personal computing devices in a learning environment. A plurality of portable computers may communicate with a portable network center to undergo lesson plans, testing, and other educational tasks. The portable computers may be stored in a mobile storage unit that may also serve as a network communications center, and may also provide power connections for the computers. The computers may include removable, rechargeable batteries, which may be recharged at the storage unit.

Claims

1. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a portable cart having one or more wheels;

one or more shelves in said cart, storing a plurality of portable computers;

a battery storage area in said portable cart, storing a plurality of spare rechargeable batteries for said computers;

a power supply in said portable cart, wherein said power supply recharges said plurality of rechargeable batteries; and

a wireless communication server in said portable cart, wherein said server is communicatively coupled to said plurality of portable computers via wireless communications when said portable computers are removed from said cart and distributed among a plurality of students for a teaching session, and wherein said shelves store said portable computers when said portable computers are returned to said cart after said teaching session.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a current-limiting power supply that reduces current draw when more devices are recharging.

3. The system of claim 2, further including one or more fuses for use during said recharging.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable cart further comprises a battery changing station having a power supply line to provide electrical power to one of said computers while a battery in said one of said computers is changed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is communicatively coupled to a communications network external to said cart.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said communications network external to said cart is a local area network.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said communications network external to said cart is a telephone system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery storage area is a drawer located above said one or more shelves.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said server communicates with said computers while said computers are stored within said cart.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said server updates software stored within said computers while said computers are stored within said cart.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply recharges batteries that are connected to said computers while said computers are stored in said cart.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising one or more external folding shelves.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of computers includes student computers, and wherein said server is communicatively coupled to a teacher computer.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said teacher computer monitors said student computers.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said teacher computer is configured to assume control over one or more of said student computers.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said student computers include computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of said student computers, causes said student computers to administer an examination to students.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said computers are laptop computers having an elongated battery extending across a front of said computer.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of said computers are laptop computers having a built-in radio frequency antenna.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply recharges at least thirty-two batteries at one time.

19. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a first portable cart having one or more wheels;

a plurality of laptop computers, stored on one or more shelves in said cart; and

a server on one of said shelves, wherein said server communicates with said laptop computers via wireless communication, and wherein said server is communicatively coupled to a server located on a shelf of a second portable cart.

20. The system of claim 19, further including a current limiting power supply that reduces current draw when more batteries and/or computers are recharging.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein a first computer, associated with said first portable cart, is communicatively coupled to a second computer, associated with said second portable cart, via said server of said first portable cart and said server of said second portable cart.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said first computer is a teacher computer, and said second computer is a student computer.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said teacher computer monitors said student computer.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said second computer roams between a communication coverage area of said server of said second cart and a communication coverage area of said server of said first cart.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein said plurality of laptop computers are for distribution to a plurality of students in a classroom, and are stored on said one or more shelves when not in use by said students.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein said laptop computers include a keyboard, a display, and an antenna.

35. The system of claim 19, wherein said server is configured to wirelessly communicate with said laptop computers when said laptop computers are distributed to locations remote from a location of said cart.

36. The system of claim 19, wherein said plurality of laptop computers is removably stored on said one or more shelves.

25. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a portable cart having one or more wheels;

a plurality of laptop computers, stored on one or more shelves in said cart; and

a plurality of rechargeable batteries for said laptop computers, stored in a battery area of said cart, wherein said batteries are recharged during storage in said cart.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said battery area is a drawer.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising a current limiting power supply located on said cart, wherein said current limiting power supply provides electrical power to one or more of said plurality of rechargeable batteries.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said cart further comprises a battery changing station having a power cord compatible with said laptop computers.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein said battery area includes a plurality of molded slots to assist in the proper seating of said batteries.

29. A system, comprising:

a portable case having a lid, and configured to store a plurality of portable computers;

a plurality of wheels located at a first end of said case, and one or more handles located at a second end of said case; and

a network server, located within said case, wherein said network server communicates with said plurality of portable computers when said portable computers are removed from said portable case.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising a power supply, located in said case, that provides electrical power to one or more portable computers stored within said case.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein said network server communicates with said portable computers via wireless communication, and said portable case further includes a wireless communication antenna integrally formed with said case.