Instruction communication system

• US 5,769,643 A
• Filed: 02/07/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Global Network Services LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Stevens, Harden E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US08/597,729
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 434/307 R, 434/322, 434/323, 434/351, 434/350
• US Class Current: 434/350
• 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 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

An instruction communication network which employs low-cost cordless telephone technology to broadcast information to students. A first computer operated by a student includes a first cordless telephone transceiver. A second computer operated by a teacher transfers instruction data to the first computer and includes a second cordless telephone transceiver. The cordless telephone transceivers preferably operate at frequencies designated by the FCC and has a transmission range less than five thousand feet. A typical frequency of operation is in a frequency band near 900 MHz. The first computer may encrypt responses to the instruction data.

Claims

1. An instruction communication network comprising:

a first computer operated by a student including a first cordless telephone transceiver; and

a second computer operated by a teacher which transfers instruction data to the first computer including a second cordless telephone transceiver;

wherein the first and second cordless telephone transceivers have a transmission range less than five thousand feet operate at cordless telephone frequencies designated by the FCC.

2. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer sends response data to the second computer.

3. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the instruction data is a test and wherein the first computer sends test responses to the second computer.

4. The network as recited in claim 3, wherein the first computer encrypts the test responses before sending it to the second computer.

5. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the instruction data is homework and wherein the first computer sends homework responses to the second computer.

6. The network as recited in claim 5, wherein the first computer encrypts the response data before sending it to the second computer.

7. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a notebook computer having a PCMCIA port and the cordless telephone transceiver includes a PCMCIA card which fits within the PCMCIA port.

8. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the second computer comprises a server having a system bus and an expansion connector coupled to the system bus, and wherein the cordless telephone transceiver includes an adapter card which couples to the expansion connector.

9. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a pen computer having a PCMCIA port and the cordless telephone transceiver includes a PCMCIA card which fits within the PCMCIA port.

10. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a display for displaying the instruction data.

11. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a speaker for audiblizing the instruction data.

12. The network as recited in claim 1, wherein the first computer and the second computer encrypt all transmissions from the first and second cordless phone transceivers.

13. An instruction communication network comprising:

a plurality of computers each including a cordless telephone transceiver and operated by a student; and

another computer including a cordless telephone transceiver and operated by a teacher which transfers instruction data to the plurality of computers and which receives student data from the plurality of computers;

wherein the cordless telephone transceivers have a transmission range less than five thousand feet operate at cordless telephone frequencies designated by the FCC.