Computerized game teaching method

• US 5,678,001 A
• Filed: 04/05/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nagel, Ralph, Roger Roberts
• Original Assignee: Nagel, Ralph, Roger Roberts
• Inventors: Nagel, Ralph, Roberts, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US08/628,521
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 395/173, 395/352, 395/348, 273/237, 273/238, 273/260, 273/430, 434/118, 434/128, 434/307, 434/323
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/022 Recording or reproducing chess games teaching games G09B19/22
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/22 Games, e.g. card games
• 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

Abstract

A computer readable memory operable with a computer having a display screen to cause the computer to store problems and solutions and permit various different kinds of hints and suggestions to be accessed during the solution of the problems.

Claims

1. A computer readable memory operable with a computer having a display screen to cause the computer to function as follows:

store a plurality of problems that can be displayed one at a time on the screen in the form of arrangements of problem representations, wherein said problems are solved by a solution set of sequential rearrangements of the problem representations where the number of said rearrangements in said solution set required to solve a said problem is two or more;

store for each said problem one correct solution set of predetermined sequential rearrangements of the problem representations that solves that problem;

store a plurality of different kinds of hints for each said problem;

display on the computer screen a plurality of selectable hint buttons wherein each said hint button is associated with a hint of a particular kind;

display one of said stored problems to be solved on the computer screen;

fix on the screen a display of said problem representations in their rearranged positions in response to an attempted rearrangement of the problem representations on the screen which corresponds to the predetermined sequential rearrangement in the solution set for said problem displayed;

fix on the screen a display of that arrangement of said problem representations which was displayed on the screen immediately prior to an attempted rearrangement in response to an attempted rearrangement of said problem representations on the screen which is not a predetermined sequential rearrangement in the solution set for said problem displayed;

display on the screen in response to selection of one of said hint buttons a hint of the particular kind with which said button is associated;

display on the screen, for each different arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen, in response to selection of a hint button, a stored hint specific to the arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen at the time the hint button is selected; and

change the content of two or more of said hints available whenever the arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen changes.

2. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is further caused to operate as follows:

display simultaneously on the screen a multiplicity of said hints in response to selection of a multiplicity of said hint buttons.

3. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is further caused to operate as follows:

change the content of at least three of said hints available whenever the arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen changes.

4. The memory of claim 3 wherein the number of said hints selectable for any given arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen is more than three.

5. The memory of claim 4 wherein the computer is further caused to:

ascribed a hierarchy of values to said stored hints.

6. The memory of claim 5 wherein the computer is further caused to:

ascribe and record a solution value to each said problem solved wherein the solution value so ascribed and recorded is a function of the number and value of said hints used during the solution of said problem.

7. The memory of claim 6 wherein the computer is further caused to:

select a said problem for display on the screen from said plurality of problems stored in the computer as a function of the solution values ascribed to one or more of said problems previously displayed and solved.

8. The memory of claim 3 wherein the computer is further caused to:

continue to display on the screen that arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen at the time one or more of said hint buttons are selected to display a hint whereby said hints and the position of the said problem representations are visible on the screen at the same time.

9. The memory of claim 8 wherein the computer is further caused to:

maintain freed, and not extinguish, the hints displayed on the screen in response to an attempted rearrangement of said problem representations on the screen.

10. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is further caused to:

after an attempted rearrangement of said problem representations which attempted rearrangement is not part of said solution set, following a prior rearrangement which is one of said solution set, fix the screen display with the arrangement of said problem representations immediately prior to the attempted rearrangement and immediately after the prior rearrangement of said problem representations and not return the screen display to the arrangement of said problem representations fixed on the screen at the beginning of the problem.

11. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is further caused to:

indicate on the screen, in response to selection of one of said hint buttons, one or more of said problem representations on the screen involved in the next arrangement of said problem representations in said solution set for said problem displayed.

12. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is further caused to;

display on the screen, in response to selection of one of said hint buttons, the number of rearrangements remaining in said solution set for solving said problem displayed.

13. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is further caused to:

display on the screen, in response to selection of one of said hint buttons, a plurality of possible rearrangements of said problem representations including one from said solution set for said problem displayed.

14. The memory of claim 1 wherein said problems are chess problems and said problem representations include all or a portion of a chess board and chess pieces.

15. The memory of claim 1 wherein said problems are Go problems and said problem representations include all or a portion of a go board and go pieces.

16. The memory of claim 1 wherein said problems are Bridge problems and said representations include all or a portion of a deck of bridge playing cards.

17. The memory of claim 1 wherein said problems are Backgammon problems and said representations include all or a portion of a backgammon board and backgammon markers.

18. The memory of claim 1 wherein said problems are Checkers problems and the representations include all or a portion of a checkers board and checkers pieces.

19. The memory of claim 1 wherein said problems are Scrabble problems and said representations include all or a portion of a scrabble board and scrabble pieces.

20. The memory of claim 1 wherein the computer is caused to:

display on the screen, in response to selection of a first one of said hint buttons, a plurality of possible rearrangements of said problem representations including one from said solution set for said problem displayed;

display on the screen, in response to selection of a second one of said hint buttons, the number of rearrangements remaining in said solution set for solving said problem displayed.

indicate on the screen, in response to selection of a third one of said hint buttons, one or more of said problem representations on the screen involved in the next arrangement of said problem representations in said solution set for said problem displayed;

display on the screen, in response to selection of a fourth one of said hint buttons, the solution to the problem displayed.

21. A computer readable memory operable with a computer having a display screen to cause the computer to function as follows:

store a plurality of chess problems that can be displayed one at a time on the screen in the form of arrangements of chess equipment representations, wherein said problems are solved by a solution set of sequential rearrangements of the problem representations where the number of said rearrangements in said solution set required to solve a said problem is two or more;

store for each said problem one correct solution set of predetermined sequential rearrangements of the chess equipment representations that solves that said problem;

store a plurality of different kinds of hints for each said problem;

display on the computer screen a plurality of selectable hint buttons wherein each said button is associated with a hint of a particular kind;

display one of said stored problems to be solved on the computer screen;

fix on the screen a display of said chess equipment representations in their rearranged positions in response to an attempted rearrangement of said chess equipment representations on the screen which corresponds to the predetermined sequential rearrangement in the solution set for said problem displayed;

fix on the screen a display of that arrangement of said chess equipment representations which was displayed on the screen immediately prior to an attempted rearrangement in response to an attempted rearrangement of said chess equipment representations on the screen which is not a predetermined sequential rearrangement in the solution set for said problem displayed;

display on the screen in response to selection of a hint button a hint of the particular kind with which said button is associated;

display on the screen, for each different arrangement of said chess equipment representations fixed on the screen, in response to selection of a hint button, a stored hint specific to the arrangement of said chess equipment representations fixed on the screen at the time the hint button is selected; and

change, whenever the arrangement of said chess equipment representations fixed on the screen changes, the content of two or more of said hints available.

22. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is further caused to operate as follows:

display simultaneously on the screen multiple hints in response to selection of multiple said hint buttons.

23. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is further caused to operate as follows:

change the content of at least three said hints available whenever the arrangement of chess equipment representations fixed on the screen changes.

24. The memory of claim 23 wherein the number of available hints selectable for any given arrangement of chess equipment representations is more than three.

25. The memory of claim 24 wherein the computer is further caused to:

ascribed a hierarchy of values to said stored hints.

26. The memory of claim 25 wherein the computer is further caused to:

ascribe and record a solution value to each said problem solved wherein the solution value so ascribed and recorded is a function of the number and value of said hints used during the solution of the problem.

27. The memory of claim 26 wherein the computer is further caused to:

select a problem for display on the screen from the plurality of said problems stored in the computer as a function of the solution values ascribed to one or more of said problems previously presented and solved.

28. The memory of claim 23 wherein the computer is further caused to:

continue to display on the screen that arrangement of chess equipment representations fixed on the screen at the time one or more said hint buttons are selected to display a hint whereby said hints and the position of the chess equipment representations are visible on the screen at the same time.

29. The memory of claim 28 wherein the computer is further caused to:

maintain fixed, and not extinguish, said hints displayed on the screen in response to a rearrangement of said chess equipment representations on the screen.

30. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is further caused to:

after an attempted rearrangement of said chess equipment representations which attempted rearrangement is not part of said solution set, following a prior rearrangement which is one of said solution set, fix the screen display with the arrangement of said chess equipment representations immediately prior to the attempted rearrangement and immediately after the prior rearrangement of chess equipment representations and not return the screen display to the arrangement of said chess equipment representations fixed on the screen at the beginning of said problem displayed.

31. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is further caused to:

indicate on the screen, in response to selection of a one of said hint buttons, one or more of said chess equipment representations on the screen involved in the next arrangement of said chess equipment representations in said solution set for said problem displayed.

32. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is further caused to:

display on the screen, in response to selection of one of said hint buttons, the number of rearrangements remaining In said solution set for solving said problem displayed.

33. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is further caused to:

display on the screen, in response to selection of one of said hint buttons, a plurality of possible rearrangements of said chess equipment representations including one from said solution set for said problem displayed.

34. The memory of claim 21 wherein the computer is caused to:

display on the screen, in response to selection of a first one of said hint buttons, a plurality of possible rearrangements of said chess equipment representations including one from said solution set for said problem displayed;

display on the screen, in response to selection of a second one of said hint buttons, the number of rearrangements of chess equipment representations remaining in said solution set for solving said problem displayed.

indicate on the screen, in response to selection of a third one of said hint buttons, one or more of said chess equipment representations on the screen involved in the next arrangement of said problem representations in said solution set for said problem displayed;

display on the screen, in response to selection of a fourth one of said hint buttons, the solution to said problem displayed.