Agent based instruction system and method

• US 6,201,948 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 03/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Convergys Customer Management Group Incorporated (Convergys Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NetSage Corp (Convergys Corporation)
• Inventors: Cook, Donald A., Lukas, George, Lukas, Andrew V., Padwa, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/042,528
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 434/322-324, 434/336, 434/335, 434/307.R, 434/350, 434/118, 434/362, 348/12, 348/13, 706/927, 380/2, 380/9, 380/251, 712/32, 713/200-202, 705/50
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• 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: Y10S 715/978 Audio interaction as part of an operator interface

Abstract

This invention relates to a system and method for interactive, adaptive, and individualized computer-assisted instruction. This invention includes an agent for each student which adapts to its student and provides individualized guidance to the student and controls to the augmented computer-assisted instructional materials. The instructional materials of this invention are augmented to communicate the student'"'"'s performance and the material'"'"'s pedagogical characteristics to the agent and to receive control from the agent. Preferably, the content of the communication between the agent and the materials conforms to specified interface standards so that the agent acts independently of the content of the particular materials. Also preferably, the agent can project using various I/O modalities integrated, engaging, life-like display persona(e) appropriate to the preferences of its student and appear as a virtual tutor to the student. Finally, preferably this invention is implemented on computers interconnected by a network so that instruction can be delivered to geographically distributed students from geographically distributed servers. An important application of this invention is delivering interactive, adaptive, and individualized homework to students in their homes and other locations.

Claims

1. A method of operating an agent based instruction system for interactive instruction of one or more students, said method comprising:

checking the authority of one of said students to access said system for interactive instruction by one or more materials at a computer, said computer being one computer of a plurality of computers interconnected by a network;

loading to said computer software and data for said interactive instruction;

presenting interactive instruction to said one student at said computer by executing said one or more materials; and

presenting guiding information at said computer that acts to guide said student in said interactive instruction by said one or more materials, said guiding information being responsive to performance of said interactive instruction of said student.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of monitoring said interactive instruction, said monitoring generating monitoring information that monitors said interactive instruction of said student, and wherein said step of presenting guiding information is responsive to said monitoring information;

whereby said system acts as a virtual tutor adapted to said one student, said virtual tutor for guiding said interactive instruction of said student.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising a step of controlling said one or more materials to present instruction to said student, said controlling responsive to said monitoring information, whereby said interactive instruction presented by said system is individualized to said student.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising a step of maintaining a model of said one student, said maintaining responsive to said monitoring information of said student, and wherein the step of presenting guiding information and the step of controlling are further responsive to said model of said student, whereby said presenting step and said controlling step adapt to said student thereby individualizing said interactive instruction of said student.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said one or more materials comprise a plurality of materials.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein one or more of said plurality of computers are configured as one or more server computers for holding databases of software and data, and said step of loading further comprises loading across said network to said computer from said databases.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said loading occurs when said software and data is demanded at said computer.

8. The method according to claim 6 further comprising caching read-only data on said computer.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of presenting guiding information further comprises presenting guiding information in one or more output modalities.

10. The method according to claim 9 where said one or more output modalities are one or more output modalities selected from the group consisting of text, graphics, speech, audio, animation, video, and preformatted animated sequences.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein said step of presenting guiding information selects said output modalities to output one or more persona or personae responsive to said interactive instruction.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein said output modalities further comprise content, and said method further comprises a step of loading said content to said computer.

13. A computer readable medium comprising computer instructions for performing the steps of:

checking the authority of one of said students to access said system for interactive instruction by one or more materials at a computer, said computer being one computer of a plurality of computers interconnected by a network;

loading to said computer software and data for said interactive instruction;

presenting interactive instruction to said one student at said computer by executing said one or more materials; and

presenting guiding information at said computer that acts to guide said student in said interactive instruction by said one or more materials, said guiding information being responsive to performance of said interactive instruction of said student.