Apparatus and method for generating and presenting an audiovisual lesson plan

• US 5,601,436 A
• Filed: 01/30/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rauland-Borg Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Rauland-Borg Corporation (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Singhi, Dilip, Ulowetz, Joseph, Sudman, David, Pajerski, Maureen
• Primary Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US08/380,088
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/307 R-308, 434/323, 434/350, 434/362, 434/365, 364/514, 348/8, 348/61, 348/460, 348/552, 340/825.06, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.52, 340/825.55, 395/154, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 360/33.1
• US Class Current: 434/307.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/12 different stations being capable of presenting different information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A system and method for generating and presenting a lesson plan comprising audiovisual materials to a classroom. The system enables the automatic connection of audiovisual output signals from one or more audiovisual resources to classroom monitors in accordance with a predetermined sequence called a "lesson plan." The lesson plan includes labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources, and control commands for controlling the selected audiovisual resources. At a scheduled date and time, the lesson plan is loaded into the system and processed to automatically connect the output signals from selected audiovisual resources to specified monitors, and also to control the playback of the resources.

The system also includes a software program for generating the lesson plan and saving it for a future presentation. To assist with the generation and presentation, a database of available materials and a scheduling program are also provided.

Claims

1. In a system for providing audiovisual output signals from a plurality of audiovisual resources to a plurality of monitors, an apparatus for connecting a selected one of the resources to at Least one of the monitors and for controlling the operation of the selected resource, comprising:

an input device for receiving input information and including a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals representative of the received information, the information including the identity of the selected audiovisual resource and at least one control command corresponding to a controllable operation of that audiovisual resource;

a memory means;

a receiver for receiving the wireless signals transmitted from the input device;

a processor means operatively connected to the receiver and the memory means for reading the information transmitted from the input device and for writing the information into the memory;

a switching network for connecting signals from the audiovisual resources to the monitors;

a communication mechanism connected to each of the audiovisual resources for providing remote control signals to the audiovisual resources for controlling the operation thereof; and

a controller means for reading the memory means and for controlling the switching network to selectively connect the selected audiovisual resource identified in the memory means to at least one monitor, and for reading the control command in the memory means and for transmitting a remote control signal corresponding to that command on the communication mechanism to control the operation of the selected audiovisual resource to provide audiovisual output signals from the selected audiovisual resource to at least one monitor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication mechanism includes a transmitter for transmitting infrared signals to remotely control the selected resource.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transmitter of the communication mechanism includes a light emitting diode coupled to the selected audiovisual resource.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the Lnput device includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting received input information to the receiver via infrared signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the input device comprises a hand-held remote controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input device includes a radio frequency transmitter for transmitting received input information to the receiver via radio frequency signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audiovisual output signals from the selected audiovisual resource are distinct audio and video signals, and further comprising means for combining the distinct audio and video signals from the selected resource into a combined audio and video signal on a transmission line that provides the combined signal to an input of the switching network.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the switching network switches the combined signal, and further comprising means connected to an output of the switching network for separating the combined signal into distinct audio and video signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a non-volatile storage medium operatively connected to the processor means, wherein the processor means reads information from the memory means and writes the information into the non-volatile storage medium.

10. In a system for providing audiovisual output signals from a plurality of audiovisual resources to a plurality of monitors, a method of connecting a selected one of the audiovisual resources to at lease one of the monitors and controlling the operation of the selected resource, comprising the steps of:

receiving input information on an input device, the information including the identity of the selected audiovisual resource and at least one control command corresponding to a controllable operation of that audiovisual resource;

transmitting wireless signals from the input device representative of the received information;

receiving the wireless signals and writing by a processor means the information represented by those signals as electronic data into a memory means; and

reading the memory with a controller means to determine the selected audiovisual resource identified therein and controlling a switching network via said controller means to selectively connect signals from that selected audiovisual resource to at least one monitor, and reading the memory means to determine the control command identified therein and transmitting a remote control signal corresponding to the control command onto a communication mechanism to control the operation of the selected audiovisual resource to provide audiovisual output signals from the selected audiovisual resource to at least one monitor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the transmitting wireless signals from the input device representative of the received information are infrared signals.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of transmitting a remote control signal corresponding to the control command comprises the step of modulating a light emitting diode coupled to the selected audiovisual resource.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the audiovisual output signals from the selected resource are distinct audio and video signals, and further comprising the step of combining the distinct audio and video signals from the selected audio visual resource into a combined audio and video signal.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of separating the combined signal into distinct audio and video signals before the signals from the selected audiovisual resource are provided to the monitor.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of writing the information from the memory means to a non-volatile storage medium.