Content and portal systems and associated methods

• US 20060026213A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackboard Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blackboard Incorporated
• Inventors: Yaskin, David, Everhart, Deborah, Cane, Daniel, Chi, Timothy, Natour, Heather, Langford, William H., Joyce, Tom, Bhorjee, Anita Kaur, Finnefrock, Jessica, Cupp, Stephanie Marie, Safavian, Zahra
• Application Number:
  US11/142,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20060026213A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 method and system are disclosed for providing a community of users access to content items. The content items relate to a plurality of courses, with each user being associated with one or more of the courses. A method of managing and controlling access to the content items can include the steps of (a) receiving from one or more of the users proposed content items for inclusion in a content repository; (b) selecting content items from the proposed content items for inclusion in the content repository; (c) specifying which of the users are eligible to access which of the content items in the content repository; and (d) providing access to content items in the repository over a network to users specified to have access to given content items.

Claims

1. In a system for providing a community of users access to content items, said content items relating to a plurality of courses, each user being associated with one or more of said courses, a method of managing and controlling access to said content items, the method comprising:

(a) receiving from one or more of said users proposed content items for inclusion in a content repository;

(b) selecting content items from said proposed content items for inclusion in said content repository;

(c) specifying which of said users are eligible to access which of said content items in said content repository; and

(d) providing access to content items in said repository over a network to users specified to have access to given content items.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a LAN, a WAN, a MAN, an intranet or the Internet.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said users comprise students, instructors, administrators, or librarians associated with an educational institution.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing users to search for a desired content item in said content repository using metadata associated with said content items or using text searching.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said content items are organized in a catalog, and wherein a desired content item can be identified by a user by browsing said catalog.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises associating permissions with said content items.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said permissions include read, write, delete, or manage.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling the time period said content items can be accessed by said users.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said content repository provides a common structure for storage of said content items.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising managing file versioning of content items in said content repository.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the checking in and checking out of content items.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising managing workflow activities relating to content items in said content repository.

13. A portal system for user access to an online computer-based educational system, the portal system comprising:

an interface for communications with a system user;

means for providing a system user access to at least a content system of the online computer-based educational system;

means for managing branding for a plurality of brands available for system users to control at least a first level of access for system users using the portal system to content of the content system of the online computer-based educational system, and

means for managing a plurality of roles available for system users to control at least a second level of access for system users using the portal system to content of the content system of the online computer-based educational system.

14. The portal system as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for managing branding includes a capability to modify branding for a particular system user once it has been created.

15. The portal system as recited in claim 13, wherein the means for managing roles includes a capability to modify a role for a particular system user once it has been created.

16. The portal system as recited in claim 15, wherein a particular system user may have a single assigned primary role.

17. The portal system as recited in claim 15, wherein a particular system user may have a single assigned secondary role.

18. The portal system as recited in claim 15, wherein a particular system user may have a multiple assigned primary roles.

19. The portal system as recited in claim 15, wherein a particular system user may have at least one assigned primary role and at least one assigned secondary role.