Distance learning system providing individual television participation, audio responses and memory for every student

• US 5,537,141 A
• Filed: 04/15/1994
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: ACTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Harper, Gregory W., Freeman, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/228,355
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 348/15, 348/14, 348/13, 348/8, 348/16, 348/17, 348/705, 358/85, 379/53, 379/54
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/28 Arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/30 by a single channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/07 characterised by processes or methods for the generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/45 for identifying users
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4351 involving reassembling additional data, e.g. rebuilding an executable program from recovered modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8541 involving branching, e.g. to different story endings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/04 Systems for the transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by a single carrier H04N7/084, H04N7/087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An interactive distance learning system which provides individualized and meaningful interactive responses to each student, as if the student is receiving instruction directly from a private tutor or instructor. An interactive program transmission occurs to a diverse number of facilities and locations. The primary transmission is a live lecture by the person making the presentation on the distance learning system. The live lecture is accompanied by questions to gage comprehension by students. The questions, in interrogatory form, are graphically displayed on the screen either as video or overlaying the video showing the lecturer. In addition to the interrogatory question, a set of responses, one correct, the rest incorrect, are also presented for the student choice. A complimentary suite of affirmative supportive commentary is prepared and prerecorded for the plurality of correct and incorrect responses which might be given to a question. Each response teaches, confirms and encourages the learning experience. A processor, branching codes and a memory device can be used to create a large variety of responses to provide an individual response for every student who responds to an interrogatory. A different response is created for every answer given to every question. Video or disk recordings of presentations can be prerecorded to demonstrate concepts or ideas or simply expand on lectured points and can be switched in and out of the video presentation of the live lecture as the instructor chooses. The transmitted interactive signal can be recorded for later playback and remain fully interactive. An extremely flexible, relatively inexpensive system is thus created which uniquely teaches and uniquely addresses the needs of every student participating in the interactive distance learning system experience.

Claims

1. A distance learning classroom reception system used by subscribers to receive an interactive program at one or more classroom control units which permit each subscriber to interact with the interactive program individually and to receive uniquely personalized, meaningful instruction responses as if receiving feedback directly from a private tutor or instructor, the system comprising:

at least one means for receiving the interactive program, wherein the interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels, control data and a video signal, wherein the control data contains branching codes and the interactive program contains one or more interrogatory messages for eliciting subscriber responses;

at least one classroom master unit, connected to the receiving means, comprising;

first means for storing the control data;

controller means, connected to the first storage means, for reading the control data and controlling operation of the classroom master unit;

at least one display means, connected to the classroom master unit, for displaying the video signal;

at least one means, connected to the classroom master unit, for gathering subscriber responses to the interrogatory messages resulting from the presentation of the interactive program, the gathering means comprising;

means for obtaining the audio channels and the branching codes from the classroom master unit;

audio selection means, operably connected to the obtaining means, for

creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels, each branch determined based on the branching codes and the one or more subscriber responses, whereby numerous different audio responses are created; and

means, connected to the audio selection means, for presenting the personalized voice response to the subscriber, whereby each of the subscribers interacts individually with the interactive program and each subscriber hears an individualized audio feedback response.

2. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of audio channels, video signal and data of the interactive program are embedded in a standard NTSC video format and the classroom master unit further comprises a means for extracting the audio channels and control data from the standard NTSC video format.

3. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of audio channels, video signal and control data of the interactive program are digitally encoded and combined in a composite digital interactive signal and the receiving means further comprises:

means for demultiplexing the digital audio channels, video signal and data from the composite digital interactive signal; and

means for converting the demultiplexed digital audio channels and the demultiplexed digital video signal into analog signals.

4. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 1 further comprising a means for recording the interactive program without loss of interactive capability.

5. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 1 wherein the gathering means further comprises a means for storing one or more previous subscriber entries and wherein the audio selection means comprises means for processing the previous subscriber entries along with the current subscriber entry so that a branch is based on prior subscriber entries, the current subscriber entry and the branching codes in formulating the complete personalized audio response.

6. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 1 wherein the classroom master unit comprises

means for transmitting student performance data to a teacher control unit whereby the student performance data is a compilation of student responses to the interactive program.

7. A distance learning teacher control unit used for creating an integrated interactive signal which when transmitted and received at one or more classroom master units will permit one or more subscribers to interact individually with an interactive program and to receive uniquely personalized meaningful instruction messages, as if receiving instruction directly from a private tutor or instructor, comprising:

means for generating a video signal, wherein the video signal comprises one or more interrogatory messages for eliciting a subscriber response;

means for creating control data comprising control codes and branching codes, whereby the codes are used for initiating, controlling, and branching between the plurality of audio channels;

means for providing a plurality of audio channels, the audio channels comprising audio segments, the audio segments being of approximate equal length in time and related in content to each other;

audio mixing means, operably connected to the providing means, for combining audio channels; and

means, operably connected to the generating means, creating means and audio mixing means, for combining the video signal, control data and plurality of audio channels into the single integrated interactive signal,

whereby the single integrated interactive signal allows for existing broadcast transmission infrastructure to be used.

8. The distance learning teacher control unit of claim 7, the unit further comprising:

means, connected to the generating means, for digitally encoding the video signal;

means, connected to the audio mixing means, for digitally encoding the plurality of audio channels; and

wherein the means for combining comprises means for multiplexing the control data, connected to the video digital encoding means and the audio digital encoding means, the plurality of audio channels and video signal into a single composite digital interactive signal.

9. The distance learning teacher control unit of claim 7 wherein the combining means comprises means for embedding the control data, plurality of audio channels and video signal into a standard NTSC video format.

10. The distance learning teacher control unit of claim 9 wherein the video signal contains a vertical blanking interval and the embedding means comprises means for inserting the control data and plurality of audio channels into the vertical blanking interval of the video signal.

11. The distance learning teacher control unit of claim 7 wherein the teacher control unit further comprises a means for processing student information received from remote classroom sites, comprising:

means for receiving student messages and performance data, wherein the performance data is a compilation of student responses to the interactive program;

means, connected to the receiving means for processing the performance data;

means, connected to the processing means, for reformatting the student performance data into display-ready form; and

means, connected to the reformatting means for displaying student performance data so that feedback on student performance is provided to the teacher control unit.

12. A distance learning classroom reception system used by one or more subscribers to receive an integrated interactive program at one or more classroom control units which permits each subscriber to view a video signal on a display monitor and to interact with the interactive program individually and to receive uniquely personalized meaningful instruction responses as if receiving feedback directly from a private tutor or instructor, the system comprising:

at least one means for receiving an integrated interactive program, wherein the interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels, control data and a video signal, wherein the control data contains branching codes and the interactive program contains one or more interrogatory messages for eliciting subscriber responses;

at least one classroom master unit, connected to the receiving means, comprising;

a means for extracting the audio channels, video signal and control data from the interactive program;

a means, connected to the extracting means, for storing the control data; and

a controller means, connected to the extracting means and the storage means, for reading the control data and controlling operation of the classroom master unit;

at least one means, connected to the classroom master unit, for gathering, subscriber responses to the interrogatory messages resulting from the presentation of the interactive program, the gathering means comprising;

means for entering a subscriber response to the interrogatory message;

means for obtaining the audio channels and the branching codes from the classroom master unit;

audio selection means, operably connected to the entry means and the obtaining means, for creating a personalized audio response from the plurality of audio channels, comprising;

means for branching between the plurality of audio channels to form a personalized response, wherein each branch is determined based on the one or more subscriber responses and the branching codes; and

means, connected to the audio selection means, for presenting the personalized voice response to the subscriber, whereby each of the subscribers interacts individually with the interactive program and each subscriber hears an individualized audio feedback response.

13. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 12 further comprising a means for recording the interactive program, wherein the recorded interactive program retains full interactivity.

14. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 12 wherein the gathering means further comprises a means for storing one or more previous subscriber entries and wherein the audio selection means further comprises means for processing the previous subscriber entries along with the current subscriber entry so that a branch is determined based on the previous subscriber entries, the current subscriber entry and the branching codes in formulating the complete personalized audio response.

15. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 12 wherein the classroom master unit further comprises;

means for transmitting student performance data to a teacher control unit wherein the student performance data is a compilation of student responses to the interactive program.

16. A method for offering an integrated interactive signal which when transmitted and received at one or more classroom master units enables each subscriber to interact with the interactive program individually and to receive uniquely personalized meaningful instruction messages, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a single interactive signal comprising a plurality of audio channels, control data and a video signal, wherein the video signal contains one or more interrogatory messages with subscriber selectable options and the control data contains branching codes;

transmitting the single interactive signal to at least one receive site location;

distributing the single interactive signal to a at least one classroom master unit, each master unit;

receiving the single interactive video;

extracting the audio channels and control data from the single interactive video signal;

displaying the video signal on a display monitor;

gathering subscriber selections to the subscriber selectable options to the interrogatory message displayed on the display monitor;

branching between the plurality of audio channels to form a personalized response for each subscriber, wherein one or more subscriber selections and the branching codes are used in formulating a personalized audio response; and

presenting the personalized response to the subscriber, whereby each subscriber interacts individually with the interactive program and each subscriber hears a uniquely personalized audio response.

17. A method for preparing an educational interactive program for transmission in a distance learning system as a single interactive video signal comprising a video signal, plurality of audio channels and control data, to at least one remote classroom location for multiple subscribers, the method comprising the steps of:

creating at least one graphics slide with interrogatory messages, each interrogatory message including subscriber selectable options;

recording verbal explanations corresponding to each subscriber selectable option;

formatting the recorded verbal explanations into a plurality of audio signals;

creating files comprising the graphics slides, corresponding audio signals and control codes for controlling presentation of the interactive program at the remote site locations;

storing files in a relational database with pointers establishing the relationship between the graphics and audio signals;

selecting a see of files for broadcast to remote receiver sites;

outputting graphics slides to a video mixer;

transferring audio signals to an audio mixer;

combining the plurality of audio signals, graphics video slide, and control codes into a single interactive signal; and

transmitting the single interactive signal to remote site locations.

18. A distance learning classroom reception system used by one or more subscribers to receive a integrated interactive program at one or more classroom control units and view a video signal on a display monitor which permits each subscriber to interact with an interactive program individually and to receive uniquely personalized instruction responses, the system comprising:

at least one means for receiving an integrated interactive signal, wherein the interactive signal contains a plurality of audio channels, control data and a video signal, wherein the control data contains branching codes and the interactive signal contains one or more interrogatory messages for eliciting subscriber responses;

at least one means for extracting the audio channels, video signal and control data from the single interactive signal;

at least one means for entering subscriber responses to the interrogatory messages resulting from the presentation of the interactive program;

at least one classroom master unit, connected to the extracting means and entry means, comprising;

a means for storing the control data;

a means for gathering the subscriber responses from the entry means;

a controller means, connected to the extracting means and the storage means, for reading the control data and controlling operation of the classroom master unit;

audio selection means, operably connected to the first storage means and the gathering means, for creating a personalized audio response from the plurality of audio channels, comprising;

means for branching between the plurality of audio channels to form a personalized response, wherein each branch is determined based on the one or more subscriber responses and the branching codes; and

at least one means, connected to the classroom master unit, for presenting the personalized voice response to each subscriber, whereby each subscriber interacts individually with the interactive program and each subscriber hears an individualized audio feedback response in real time.

19. An interactive classroom presentation system permitting students to individually interact with an interactive program by responding to subscriber selectable entry options, preferably presented as part of a video signal displayed on a monitor, and to receive personalized instruction responses, the system comprising:

at least one control unit, comprising;

at least one means for receiving the interactive program, wherein the interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels, branching codes and a video signal, wherein the interactive program contains subscriber selectable entry options; and

at least one means, in communications with the control unit, for gathering subscriber responses to the subscriber selectable entry options, each gathering means comprising;

a means for obtaining the audio channels and the branching codes from the interactive program; and

audio selection means, operably connected to the obtaining means, for creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels using one or more subscriber responses and branching codes; and

a means for presenting the selected personalized audio response to the subscriber.

20. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 19 wherein the receiving means comprises a means, connected to the receiving means, for extracting each of the audio channels and branching codes from the interactive program.

21. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 19 wherein the interactive program is pre-recorded and the system further comprises an external memory device, connected to the receiving means, wherein the pre-recorded interactive program is stored in the external memory device.

22. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 19 wherein the interactive program is pre-recorded and stored on a VCR tape and the system further comprises a VCR, connected to the receiving means.

23. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of audio channels, the video signal and the branching codes of the interactive program are embedded in a standard NTSC video format and the receiving means comprises a means for extracting the audio channels and the branching codes from the standard NTSC video formatted program.

24. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 19 wherein the plurality of audio channels, the video signal and the branching codes of the interactive program are digitally encoded and combined in a composite digital interactive signal and the receiving means further comprises:

means for demultiplexing the digital audio channels, the digital video signal and the branching codes from the composite digital interactive signal; and

means for converting the demultiplexed digital audio channels and the demultiplexed digital video signal into analog signals.

25. The distance learning classroom reception system of claim 19 wherein the gathering means further comprises a means for storing one or more previous subscriber entries and wherein the program selection means comprises means for processing the previous subscriber entries along with the current subscriber entry so that the audio branch is based on the prior subscriber responses, the current subscriber response and the branching codes in formulating the complete personalized audio response.

26. An interactive classroom presentation system permitting students to individually interact with an interactive program by responding to subscriber selectable entry options, preferably presented as part of a video signal displayed on a monitor, and to receive personalized instruction explanatory responses, the system comprising:

at least one means for gathering subscriber responses to subscriber questions, wherein the subscriber questions are presented as part of the interactive program;

at least one control unit, connected to the gathering means, comprising;

at least one means for receiving the interactive program, wherein the interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels, branching codes and a video signal; and

audio selection means, operably connected to the receiving means and the gathering means, for creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels using one or more of the subscriber response and the branching codes; and

a means for presenting the selected personalized audio response to the subscriber.

27. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 26 wherein the receiving means comprises a means, connected to the receiving means, for extracting each of the audio channels and branching codes from the interactive program.

28. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 26 wherein the interactive program is pre-recorded and the system further comprises an external memory device, connected to the receiving means, wherein the pre-recorded interactive program is stored in the external memory device.

29. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 26 wherein the interactive program is pre-recorded and stored on a VCR tape and the system further comprises a VCR, connected to the receiving means.

30. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of audio channels, the video signal and the branching codes of the interactive program are embedded in a standard NTSC video format and the receiving means comprises a means for extracting the audio channels and the branching codes from the standard NTSC video formatted program.

31. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of audio channels, the video signal and the branching codes of the interactive program are digitally encoded and combined in a composite digital interactive signal and the receiving means further comprises:

means for demultiplexing the digital audio channels, the digital video signal and the branching codes from the composite digital interactive signal; and

means for converting the demultiplexed digital audio channels and the demultiplexed digital video signal into analog signals.

32. The interactive classroom presentation system of claim 26 wherein the gathering means further comprises a means for storing one or more previous subscriber entries and wherein the program selection means comprises means for processing the previous subscriber entries along with the current subscriber entry so that the audio branch is based on the prior subscriber responses, the current subscriber response and the branching codes in formulating the complete personalized audio response.

33. An interactive classroom presentation system permitting students to individually interact with a prerecorded interactive program by responding to subscriber selectable entry options, preferably presented as part of a video signal displayed on a monitor, and to receive personalized instruction responses, the system comprising:

at least one control unit, comprising;

at least one means for playing the pre-recorded interactive program, wherein the interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels, branching codes and a video signal, wherein the interactive program contains subscriber selectable entry options; and

a means, connected to the playing means, for separately extracting each of the audio channels and the branching codes from the prerecorded interactive program;

at least one means, in communications with the control unit, for receiving subscriber responses to the subscriber selectable entry options, each receiving means comprising;

a means for decoding the branching codes from the prerecorded interactive program; and

audio selection means, operably connected to the extracting means, for creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels using one or more subscriber responses and the branching codes; and

a means for presenting the selected personalized audio response to the subscriber.

34. An interactive classroom presentation system permitting students to individually interact with a prerecorded interactive program by responding to subscriber selectable entry options and to receive personalized instruction responses, the system comprising:

at least one means for gathering subscriber responses to subscriber questions, wherein the subscriber questions are presented as part of the prerecorded interactive program;

at least one control unit, connected to the gathering means, comprising;

at least one means for playing the prerecorded interactive program, wherein the prerecorded interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels, branching codes and a video signal;

a means, connected to the playing means, for separately extracting each of the audio channels and the branching codes from the prerecorded interactive program; and

audio selection means, operably connected to the receiving means and the gathering means, for creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels using one or more of the subscriber response and the branching codes;

at least one means, connected to the control unit, for displaying the video signal; and

a means for presenting the selected personalized audio response to the subscriber.

35. A subscriber unit, in communications with a classroom master unit, to be used as part of an interactive distance learning system providing individualized audio response explanations, whereby each subscriber interacts with an interactive program by responding to subscriber selectable entry options preferably presented as part of a video signal displayed on a monitor, the subscriber unit comprising:

means for entering a subscriber response to the subscriber selectable entry options;

means for receiving a plurality of audio signals and branching codes;

audio selection means, operably connected to the receiving means and the entry means, for creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels using one or more of the subscriber responses and branching codes; and

a means for presenting the selected personalized audio response to the subscriber.

36. A distance learning system classroom master unit that receives an interactive program, wherein the interactive program contains a plurality of audio channels and control data embedded into a video signal, permitting students to individually interact with the interactive program by responding to subscriber selectable entry options and to receive personalized instruction responses, the system comprising:

a means for separately extracting each of the audio channels and the branching codes from the interactive video signal;

a means for receiving a plurality of subscriber responses to the subscriber selectable entry options;

audio selection means, operably connected to the extracting means and the gathering means, for creating a personalized audio response by branching between the plurality of audio channels using one or more of the subscriber response and the branching codes; and

a means for presenting an individualized selected personalized audio response to each subscriber.