INTERACTIVE REAL-TIME ONLINE CLASS

• US 20090292625A1
• Filed: 05/26/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: King, Brian, Perham, Thomas Reed, Torgerson, Erik, Bartholomew, Craig
• Application Number:
  US12/126,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

A system and method for an interactive real-time online class is disclosed. In one embodiment a request to create a real-time online class may be received from an instructor. The instructor then provides class materials and the class can be indexed in a browsable or a searchable catalog of classes according to content. After the class is scheduled, the instructor can be sent a link to launch the real-time online class. In this way a student may use an online interface to browse or search the catalog of classes, request to attend the real-time online class, and then be provided a link to attend the real-time online class.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling a real-time online class directed at instructor specified content, the method comprising:

receiving a request to create a real-time online class from an instructor;

receiving class materials for the real-time online class from the instructor;

indexing the real-time online class in a searchable catalog of classes according to the content of the real-time online class;

scheduling the real-time online class;

sending the instructor a link to launch the real-time online class;

outputting the searchable catalog of classes to an online interface;

receiving a request to attend the real-time online class from at least one student; and

sending the at least one student a link to attend the real-time online class.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a payment to attend the class from the at least one student; and

distributing the payment to the instructor.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising conducting the real-time online class in on online classroom.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the searchable catalog to the at least one student to allow the at least one student to quickly find a class according to content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling the real-time online class comprises receiving a range of scheduling times from the instructor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a post-class forum for class attendees to communicate about the class.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

recording the real-time online class; and

posting the recording of the real-time online class in the post-class forum.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein indexing the real-time online class in a searchable catalog of classes according to the content of the real-time online class further comprises indexing the real-time online class in a taxonomy, wherein the taxonomy is structured according to relationships between high-level categories and the content of each class in the searchable catalog of classes.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a class size restriction from the instructor; and

restricting a number of students attending the class to the class size restriction.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the instructor for conducting the real-time online class.

11. A system for scheduling and conducting an interactive real-time online class, the system comprising a computer program configured to be executed on a computing device, the computer program including:

an instructor module configured to receive a request to schedule a real-time online class from an instructor, the instructor module further to receive class materials for the real-time online class from the instructor;

a student module configured to index the real-time online class in a searchable catalog of classes according to the content of the real-time online class and to output the searchable catalog of classes to an online interface, the student module further configured to receive a request to attend the real-time online class from at least one student;

a notification module configured to send the instructor a link to launch the real-time online class and further configured to send the at least one student a link to attend the real-time online class; and

class module configured to conduct the real-time online class between the instructor and the at least one student in an online classroom.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructor module is further configured to receive a payment to attend the class from the at least one student, and to distribute the payment to the instructor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the student module is further configured to output the searchable catalog to the at least one student to allow the at least one student to find a class directed at a specific content.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructor module is further configured to receive a message from the instructor to set a price to attend the class.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructor module is further configured to receive from the instructor a range of scheduling times for the real-time online class.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the class module is further configured to create a post-class forum for the at least one student to communicate with other students or the instructor about the class.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the class module is further configured to record the real-time online class, and post a recording of the real-time online class in the post-class forum.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the student module is further configured to index the real-time online class in a taxonomy that is structured according to relationships between high-level categories and the content of each class in the searchable catalog of classes.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer program is further configured to charge the instructor for conducting the real-time online class.

20. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computing device to schedule a real-time online class, the instructions being executable to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request to create a real-time online class from an instructor;

receiving class materials for the real-time online class from the instructor;

indexing the real-time online class in a searchable catalog of classes according to the content of the real-time online class;

scheduling the real-time online class;

sending the instructor a link to launch the real-time online class;

outputting the searchable catalog of classes to an online interface;

receiving a request to attend the real-time online class from at least one student; and

sending the at least one student a link to attend the real-time online class.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions to make the link for the instructor available as part of an online account for the instructor, and further comprising instructions to make the link for the at least one student available as part of an account for the at least one student.