System and method for monitoring and recording research activity

• US 20060218034A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Laird R. Kelly
• Original Assignee: Laird R. Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Laird R.
• Application Number:
  US11/089,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218034A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/875 Monitoring of systems including the internet

Abstract

A research recording system is implemented via a toolbar on a Web browser. The system monitors and selectively records a user'"'"'s research activity. Specifically, the system creates a record file that includes a recording of the user'"'"'s research activity. The user'"'"'s research activity may include access and interaction with one or more available resources, regardless of the location of the resource. Additionally, the system allows the user to submit note entries related to the research activity into the record file. The record file may be used to generate a report that is transmitted to a credit-granting institution for obtaining professional credit.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for recording a user'"'"'s research activity, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring research activity conducted by a user, wherein one or more resources available to the user for the research activity includes any computer-accessible resource, and wherein the step of monitoring is performed regardless of a location of the one or more resources;

recording at least a portion of the research activity to a record file, wherein the portion of the research activity recorded is selected by the user;

generating a report including at least a portion of the record file; and

transmitting the report to one or more destinations.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording time spent conducting the research activity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording, to the record file, one or more user-inputted notes.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of providing the user with a note entry form for submission of the one or more notes related to the research activity.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the report includes at least a portion of the one or more notes.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

prompting the user to provide an analysis or rating of the research activity; and

recording, to the record file, the user'"'"'s analysis or rating.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more resources is an Internet resource.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more resources is accessible via a local network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more resources includes at least one resource accessible via a local network and at least one Internet resource.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the record file includes a listing of one or more resources accessed by the user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the record file is stored in a computer-accessible memory.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more destinations include a credit-granting institution.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the report transmitted to the credit-granting institution is used for purposes of obtaining professional credit for the user'"'"'s research activity.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more destinations include a billing system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more destinations include a database that stores the report.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the record file includes a chronological listing of the one or more resources accessed during the research activity.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the report is automatically generated upon completion of the research activity.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the research activity recorded in the record file includes activity performed during multiple research sessions.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a toolbar to the user for controlling the monitoring, the recording, the generating, and the transmitting steps.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the research activity recorded includes one or more resources pre-approved by a credit-granting institution or other professional organization.

21. A system for recording a user'"'"'s research activity, the system comprising:

a research recording module communicatively connected to a user computer and one or more resources, wherein the research recording module is configured to;

monitor research activity conducted by a user, wherein one or more resources available to the user for the research activity includes any computer-accessible resource, and wherein the monitoring is performed regardless of a location of the one or more resources; and

record at least a portion of the research activity to a record file, wherein the portion of the research activity recorded is selected by the user;

a database communicatively connected to the research recording module, wherein the database is configured to store the record file; and

a report generator communicatively connected to the database, wherein the report generator is configured to;

generate one or more reports based at least on a portion of the record file; and

transmit the one or more reports to one or more destinations communicatively connected to the report generator.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the research recording module is configured to record, to the record file, a time spent conducting the research activity.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the research recording module is configured to record, to the record file, one or more user-inputted notes.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the research recording module is configured to prompt the user to provide an analysis or rating of at least a portion of the research activity, and to record, to the record file, the user'"'"'s analysis or rating.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the research recording module is executable via a Web browser on the user computer.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the research recording module includes a toolbar, and wherein the toolbar is configured to allow the user to interact with the research recording module.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the toolbar is configured to display at least one of:

one or more buttons, a data collection form, and a timer.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein at least one of the one or more buttons allows the user to start and stop recording of the research activity.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the data collection form solicits information from the user related to the research activity.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the information solicited by the data collection form includes a name of a credit-granting institution to which the user wishes to transmit the report.

31. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more destinations include a credit-granting institution.

32. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more destinations include a billing system.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more destinations include a database accessible by the user for facilitating further research.

34. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more destinations includes a report database assessible by one or more professional organizations for reviewing at least a portion of the report.

35. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more resources is an Internet resource.

36. The system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more resources is a local resource communicatively connected to the user computer via a local connection.

37. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer code for implementing a method for recording a user'"'"'s research activity, wherein the computer code comprises:

code for monitoring research activity conducted by a user, wherein one or more resources available to the user for the research activity includes any computer-accessible resource, and wherein the step of monitoring is performed regardless of a location of the resource;

code for recording at least a portion of the research activity to a record file, wherein the portion of the research activity recorded is selected by the user;

code for generating a report including at least a portion of the record file; and

code for transmitting the report to one or more destinations.