Software training system

• US 4,701,130 A
• Filed: 10/02/1986
• Issued: 10/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interactive Training Technologies
• Original Assignee: Access Learning Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Whitney, Ronald B., Whitney, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Application Number:
  US06/914,797
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/335
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming

Abstract

There is described a software training system including a computer, a cassette tape player system, and software for running the computer. This software includes the target program which the student is learning to use and courseware which defines a multiplicity of events which correspond to different portions of a predefined training lesson.

The tape player system is attached by an interface to one of the computer'"'"'s ports. The interface allows the computer to turn the tape player unit on and off, and also transmits keystroke data from the left track of a stereo cassette which is mounted in the tape player to the computer. Oral instructions or other sounds recorded on the right track of the stereo cassette are played over a speaker. The training system works by alternately turning on the tape to give the student oral instructions and to get keystroke from data from the tape, and then turning off the tape player while the student enters keystrokes, for use in the target software program, which follow the oral instructions previously given.

The keystrokes entered by the student are compared with a filter specified by the currently active event in the courseware. If a correct entry is made, the tape player is turned back on and the lesson continues. Certain predefined keystrokes from the tape player cause a new event from the courseware to be selected and for the tape player to be turned off. Furthermore, if the student fails to make the correct keystrokes within a preselected time period the training system enters the correct answer for him and proceeds with the next portion of the training session.

Claims

1. A software training authoring system comprising:

(a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs, and keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system; and

(b) recording means for recording on a multiple channel recording medium an audio signal on a first channel and keystroke data on a second channel, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes for use as input data and commands to said predefined computer program simultaneously with the reading of the corresponding oral instructions recorded on said first channel;

said computer system further including;

(c) recording control means, including

on/off software means for activating and deactivating said recording means; and

keystroke transmission means for sending keystroke data for use in said predefined computer program to said recording means for recording on said recording medium.

2. A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said recording medium is a cassette tape having first and second tracks;

said audio signal is recorded on the first track of said cassette tape, and said keystroke data is recorded on the second track of said cassette tape; and

said recording means includes a stereo cassette tape transport in which a cassette tape having first and second prerecorded tracks can be mounted, including means for recording signals on said first and second tracks.

3. A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 1, further including

an interface for connecting said recording means to said computer system, including

means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said said recording means;

and

means for receiving keystroke data from said computer system and recording said keystroke data on said second channel of said recording medium.

4. A software training authoring system comprising:

(a) a computer system including

central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs;

keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system;

display means responsive to said CPU means for displaying messages; and

port means for connecting said CPU means to a peripheral device; and

(b) audio and keystroke signal handling means including,

recording means for recording on a multiple channel recording medium an audio signal on a first channel and keystroke data on a second channel, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes corresponding to said oral instructions which are recorded for simultaneous access; and

playback means for producing output signals from said first and second channels of said recording medium and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first channel available for transmission to a speaker; and

(c) an interface for connecting said playback means and recording means to said port means, including

means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said playback means and said recording means; and

decoder means for receiving from said playback means keystroke data signals from said second channel of said recording medium, for decoding said keystroke data signals into binary keystroke data signals useable by a computer, and for enabling said computer system to receive said decoded keystroke data;

said computer system further including;

(d) tutorial control means, including

on/off software means for activating and deactivating said playback means and recording means;

keystroke transmission means for sending keystroke data for use in said predefined computer program through said port means for recording on said recording medium; and

keystroke receiving means for receiving keystroke data from said playback means and for passing at least some of said keystroke data to said computer system for use as though said keystroke data came from said keyboard means.

5. A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 4, wherein

said recording medium is a cassette tape having first and second tracks;

said audio signal is recorded on the first track of said cassette tape, and said keystroke data is recorded on the second track of said cassette tape; and

said audio and keystroke signal handling means includes a stereo cassette tape transport means in which a cassette tape having first and second prerecorded tracks can be mounted, including means for producing output signals from said first and second prerecorded tracks and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first prerecorded track of a cassette tape mounted in said cassette tape transport available for transmission to a speaker.

6. A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 4, said tutorial control means including

means for running a preselected computer program in said CPU means while said audio and keystroke signal handling means provides audio signals to a speaker and keystroke data to said computer system;

courseware means defining a tutorial on how to use a preselected computer program, including a data base for defining a multiplicity of events, each said event defining a filter string and a timeout parameter, each said event corresponding to a preselected contextual circumstance in the running of said preselected computer program;

filter means for comparing data from said keyboard with said filter string and for allowing said data from said keyboard to be further processed by said preselected computer program only if said data from said keyboard matches said filter string; and

timer means for performing a predefined task if data which matches said filter string is not received from said keyboard during a time period corresponding to said timeout parameter.

7. A computer software training system as set forth in claim 4, said tutorial control means including

keyboard control means for enabling and disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means, including means for disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means when said playback means is providing data to said computer system.

8. A method of writing a software training program, comprising the steps of:

providing a multiple channel recording medium;

recording on said multiple channel recording medium an audio signal on a first channel; and

recording on said multiple channel recording medium keystroke data on a second channel;

said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes for use as input data and commands to said predefined computer program simultaneously with the reading of the corresponding oral instructions recorded on said first channel.

9. A computer software training system comprising:

(a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs, keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system, display means responsive to said CPU means for displaying messages, and port means for connecting said CPU means to a peripheral device; and

(b) playback means for providing an audio signal including oral instructions to a speaker, and for simultaneously providing keystroke data to said computer system;

wherein said audio signal and said keystroke data have been recorded on separate first and second channels of a multiple channel recording medium, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes corresponding to said oral instructions which are recorded for simultaneous access; and

said playback means including means for producing output signals from said first and second channels of said recording medium and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first channel available for transmission to a speaker; and

(c) an interface for connecting said playback means and recording means to said port means, including

means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said playback means and said recording means; and

decorder means for receiving from said playback means keystroke data signals from said second channel of said recording medium, for decoding said keystroke data signals into binary keystroke data signals useable by a computer, and for enabling said computer system to receive said decoded keystroke data;

said computer system further including;

(d) tutorial control means, including

on/off software means for activating and deactivating said playback means; and

keystroke receiving means for receiving keystroke data from said playback means and for passing at least some of said keystroke data to said computer system for use as though said keystroke data came from said keyboard means.

10. A computer software training system as set forth in claim 9, said tutorial control means including

courseware means for defining a multiplicity of events, each said event defining a filter string and a timeout parameter;

filter means for comparing data from said keyboard with said filter string and for allowing said data from said keyboard to be further processed by said computer system only if said data from said keyboard matches said filter string; and

timer means for performing a predefined task if data which matches said filter string is not received from said keyboard during a time period corresponding to said timeout parameter.

11. A computer software training system as set forth in claim 9, said tutorial control means including

means for running a preselected computer program in said CPU means while said audio and keystroke signal handling means provides audio signals to a speaker and keystroke data to said computer system;

courseware means defining a tutorial on how to use a preselected computer program, including a data base for defining a multiplicity of events, each said event defining a filter string and a timeout parameter, each said event corresponding to a preselected contextual circumstance in the running of said preselected computer program;

filter means for comparing data from said keyboard with said filter string and for allowing said data from said keyboard to be further processed by said preselected computer program only if said data from said keyboard matches said filter string; and

timer means for performing a predefined task if data which matches said filter string is not received from said keyboard during a time period corresponding to said timeout parameter.

12. A computer software training system as set forth in claim 9, said tutorial control means including

keyboard control means for enabling and disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means, including means for disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means when said playback means is providing data to said computer system.