METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GUIDED LEARNING OF AN INFORMATION SOURCE

• US 20110167080A1
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: eFaqt BV
• Original Assignee: eFaqt BV
• Inventors: Henny, Christaan
• Application Number:
  US12/843,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

The present application discloses a method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of the learning of an information source by means of a program residing on an application computer and a plurality of databases connected to the application computer by a bus or network. The application computer is accessible to the user through a client computer connected to the application computer by a network. The program provides a customized study guidance method based on the learning preferences of the user. The present application further discloses a method for sharing learning assistance tools between users. The users can access a database of learning assistance tools prepared by other users through the interface provided by the application computer.

Claims

1. A computer system-implemented method for improving the efficiency of learning an information source wherein the method comprises the steps of:

communicating with an application computer from a client computer, wherein the application computer and the client computer are connected to each other through a communications network;

creating a user profile wherein the user profile comprises the learning preferences of a user;

storing the user profile in one or more of a plurality of databases, wherein the plurality of databases are accessible to the application computer;

utilizing the contents of the user profile to customize the appearance and presentation of an application program displayed at the client computer;

receiving from the client computer a plurality of learning assistance tools derived from the content of the information source;

storing the plurality of learning assistance tools in one or more of the plurality of databases; and

utilizing the learning assistance tools to facilitate a user review of the information source.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client computer one or more keywords derived from the content of the information source;

utilizing the one or more keywords to construct a mind map;

displaying the mind map at the client computer;

utilizing the one or more keywords and the mind map to further facilitate the user review of the information source.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client computer a plurality of node names corresponding to the content of an information source;

utilizing the node names to construct a mind map;

displaying the mind map at the client computer;

utilizing the mind map to further facilitate the user review of the information source.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of node names are comprised of chapter titles, section titles, paragraph headings, or keyword descriptions.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client computer the relationships between the plurality of node names and the information source;

utilizing the relationships to construct the mind map.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

receiving from the client computer the learning expectations associated with the information source or a particular node.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the communications network is the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a secure communications link between the application computer and the client computer by encrypting the data sent over the communications network.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

receiving from the client computer identifying information associated with the information source.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the identifying information is an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

sending the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to an ISBN database;

querying the ISBN database for a matching International Standard Book Number entry;

receiving at least the title and author of the information source from the ISBN database.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of learning assistance tools are comprised of notes, summaries, outlines, or question and answer sets.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

sending a message to the user based on the content of the user profile associated with that user.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the message is in the form of an e-mail, instant message, SMS text message, or a pop-up window on the client computer.

15. A computer system-implemented method for improving the efficiency of learning an information source wherein the method comprises the steps of:

communicating with an application computer from a client computer, wherein the application computer and the client computer are connected to each other through a communications network;

creating a user profile and storing the user profile in one or more of a plurality of databases, wherein the plurality of databases are accessible to the application computer;

utilizing the contents of the user profile to customize the appearance and presentation of an application program displayed at the client computer;

receiving from at least one of the plurality of databases one or more learning assistance tools associated with the information source; and

utilizing the one or more learning assistance tools to facilitate a user review of the information source.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client computer one or more keywords derived from the content of the information source;

utilizing the one or more keywords to construct a mind map;

displaying the mind map at the client computer;

utilizing the one or more keywords and the mind map to further facilitate the user review of the information source.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client computer a plurality of node names corresponding to the content of an information source;

utilizing the node names to construct a mind map;

displaying the mind map at the client computer;

utilizing the mind map to further facilitate the user review of the information source.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of node names are comprised of chapter titles, section titles, paragraph headings, or keyword descriptions.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the client computer the relationships between the plurality of node names and the information source;

utilizing the relationships to construct the mind map.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

receiving from the client computer the learning expectations associated with the information source or a particular node.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the communications network is the Internet.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a secure communications link between the application computer and the client computer by encrypting the data sent over the communications network.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

receiving from the client computer identifying information associated with the information source.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the identifying information is an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of:

sending the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to an ISBN database;

querying the ISBN database for a matching International Standard Book Number entry;

receiving at least the title and author of the information source from the ISBN database.

26. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of learning assistance tools are comprised of notes, summaries, outlines, or question and answer sets.

27. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

sending a message to the user based on the content of the user profile associated with that user.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the message is in the form of an e-mail, instant message, SMS text message, or a pop-up window on the client computer.

33. The method of claim 25 or 26 wherein the communications network is the Internet.

29. A computer system-implemented method for sharing learning assistance data between a first user and a plurality of secondary users, wherein the method comprises:

receiving learning assistance data at an application computer from the first user located at a first client computer, the first client computer connected to the application computer by a communications network, wherein the learning assistance data is derived from an information source;

storing the learning assistance data in a learning assistance database connected to the application computer;

receiving a request to access the learning assistance data at the application computer from a second user located at a second client computer connected to the application computer by the communications network, wherein the second user is a member of the plurality of secondary users;

transmitting the learning assistance data from the application computer to the second client computer over the communications network;

receiving a request to access the learning assistance data at the application computer from a third user located at a third client computer connected to the application computer by the communications network, wherein the third user is a member of the plurality of secondary users;

transmitting the learning assistance data from the application computer to the third client computer over the communications network.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a payment at the application computer of a first payment amount by the second user from the second client computer in exchange for the right to access the learning assistance data from the learning assistance database;

verifying an account balance in a first account associated with the second user;

transferring a first compensation amount from the first account associated with the second user to a second account associated with the first user;

receiving a request for payment at the application computer of a second payment amount by the third user from the third client computer in exchange for the right to access the shared data from the database, wherein the second payment amount is greater than the first payment amount;

verifying an account balance in a third account associated with the third user;

transferring a second compensation amount from the third account associated with the third user to the second account associated with the first user.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the first compensation amount and the second compensation amount are determined based in part on the number of requests previously received to access the learning assistance data.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the second compensation amount is greater than the first compensation amount.

34. The method of claim 29 or 30 further comprising the step of:

providing a secure communications link between the application computer and the first, second, and third client computers by encrypting the data sent over the communications network.

35. The method of claim 29 or 30 wherein the learning assistance data is comprised of notes, summaries, outlines, or question and answer sets.

36. A system that provides for the sharing of learning assistance data between a first client computer and a second client computer over a communications network, the system comprising:

the first client computer operable to transmit learning assistance data over the communications network, wherein the learning assistance data is derived from the content of one or more information sources;

the second client computer operable to transmit a request for learning assistance data over the communications network; and

an application computer connected to the first and second client computers by the communications network, wherein the application computer receives the learning assistance data from the first client computer and responds to the request from the second client computer by transmitting the learning assistance data to the second client computer over the communications network.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the learning assistance data is comprised of notes, summaries, outlines, or question and answer sets.