General purpose architecture for intelligent computer-aided training
First Claim
1. A computerized intelligent training system adaptable for use in the training of a trainee having a current skill level in the performance of at least one of a plurality of training tasks within a specific task environment, where the performance of each task comprises performance of certain procedural steps called actions such that each task has at least one desired action called a correct action and training is accomplished using the system by having the trainee perform simulated task by performing simulated actions on a computer, the computer system comprising:
- (a) user interface means for simulating the task environment for which the trainee is being trained and for enabling interaction between the trainee and the system;
(b) domain expert means for performing a simulated task and achieving the correct actions for the task;
(c) training session manager means comprising,(1) error detection means for error detection, an error being a failure of match between an action taken by a trainee, called a trainee action, with a correct action, whereby error detection is made in a hierarchical manner with relatively higher level errors, including a highest level error, distinguished from relatively lower level errors, and p2 (2) error handling means for providing information concerning actions and errors, said information concerning errors being based on the highest level error detected;
(d) training scenario generator means for designing increasingly complex training tasks based on the current skill level of the trainee and on any weaknesses or deficiencies that the trainee has exhibited in previous trainee actions, where such weaknesses or deficiencies are based on comparing the trainee actions with the correct actions from said domain expert;
(e) trainee model means for accepting from said training session manager information concerning correct actions and errors made as a result of trainee actions and compiling a complete record of the correct actions taken and errors by the trainee and, at the conclusion of each training session, creating a training summary of such correct actions and errors as well as the time taken to complete the session and the type of assistance provided by the system to the trainee; and
(f) blackboard means providing an intermodule interface for communicating between said user interface means, said domain expert means, said training session manager means, said training scenario generator means, and said trainee model means;
said blackboard means also providing an intermodule interface for transferring control of the training system from one to another of said domain expert means, said training scenario generator means, said error detection means and said error handling means by use of rules contained within each of said domain expert means, said training scenario generator means, said error detection means and said error handling means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A training system for use in a wide variety of training tasks and environments comprising a user interface simulating the same information available to a trainee in the task environment which allows the trainee to assert actions to the system; a domain expert which can use the same information available to the trainee and carry out the same task; a training session manager for evaluating such trainee assertions and providing guidance to the trainee appropriate to his acquired skill level; a trainee model which contains a history and summary of the trainee actions; an intelligent training scenario generator for designing increasingly complex training exercises based on the current skill level and any weaknesses or deficiencies that the trainee has exhibited in previous interactions; and a blackboard that provides a common fact base for communication between the other components of the system. The domain expert contains a list of "mal-rules" which typifies errors usually made by novice trainees. Also, the training session manager comprises "intelligent" error detection and error handling components. The present invention utilizes a rule-based language having a control structure using a specific message passing protocol for tasks which are procedural or step-by-step in structure. The trainee may reach "the solution" by any of a number of alternate valid paths.
503 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A computerized intelligent training system adaptable for use in the training of a trainee having a current skill level in the performance of at least one of a plurality of training tasks within a specific task environment, where the performance of each task comprises performance of certain procedural steps called actions such that each task has at least one desired action called a correct action and training is accomplished using the system by having the trainee perform simulated task by performing simulated actions on a computer, the computer system comprising:
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(a) user interface means for simulating the task environment for which the trainee is being trained and for enabling interaction between the trainee and the system; (b) domain expert means for performing a simulated task and achieving the correct actions for the task; (c) training session manager means comprising, (1) error detection means for error detection, an error being a failure of match between an action taken by a trainee, called a trainee action, with a correct action, whereby error detection is made in a hierarchical manner with relatively higher level errors, including a highest level error, distinguished from relatively lower level errors, and p2 (2) error handling means for providing information concerning actions and errors, said information concerning errors being based on the highest level error detected; (d) training scenario generator means for designing increasingly complex training tasks based on the current skill level of the trainee and on any weaknesses or deficiencies that the trainee has exhibited in previous trainee actions, where such weaknesses or deficiencies are based on comparing the trainee actions with the correct actions from said domain expert; (e) trainee model means for accepting from said training session manager information concerning correct actions and errors made as a result of trainee actions and compiling a complete record of the correct actions taken and errors by the trainee and, at the conclusion of each training session, creating a training summary of such correct actions and errors as well as the time taken to complete the session and the type of assistance provided by the system to the trainee; and (f) blackboard means providing an intermodule interface for communicating between said user interface means, said domain expert means, said training session manager means, said training scenario generator means, and said trainee model means;
said blackboard means also providing an intermodule interface for transferring control of the training system from one to another of said domain expert means, said training scenario generator means, said error detection means and said error handling means by use of rules contained within each of said domain expert means, said training scenario generator means, said error detection means and said error handling means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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- 26. A computerized intelligent training system adaptable for use in training persons, called trainees, in the performance of training tasks in a specific task environment, the computer system comprising a plurality of modules, each module comprising a set of production rules, said rules of the various modules acting in concert to implement the system, wherein said modules communicate with each other via an intermodule interface by means of messages sent in accordance with a message passing protocol, wherein all of said modules may write facts to said intermodule interface and all of said modules may read facts from said intermodule interface, and wherein each said message, to comply with said message passing protocol, contains facts indicating which of said modules sent the message and which of said modules is to receive the message.
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29. The computer implemented method of training a trainee having a skill level to perform actions necessary to accomplish the training steps of a training task in a specific task environment, the trainee performing trainee actions at various times in the training, the various actions being represented by rules, the method using a computer having modules comprising sets of rules and including an intermodule interface to which facts may be written by modules and from which facts may be read by other modules, comprising the steps;
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(a) writing to the intermodule interface predetermined correct, optional, and typical error actions; (b) waiting for a trainee action; (c) comparing the trainee action with the predetermined correct, optional and typical error actions; (d) continuing to the next training step if the trainee action matches the predetermined correct action or a predetermined optional action; (e) determining a specific error if trainee action matches a predetermined typical error action; (f) reporting an error message to trainee appropriate for the trainee'"'"'s skill level; (g) recording the specific error for use in both trainee and system evaluation; (h) performing each step by use of one or more of said modules; and (i) transferring control of the process from a first to a second of said modules by use of rules contained in any said first module, whereby said transferring of control is accomplished by writing facts to said intermodule interface by said first module and reading therefrom by any said second module.
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Specification