System and method for live interactive distance learning

• US 6,288,753 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optasia, LLC
• Original Assignee: Corrugated Services Corp.
• Inventors: Weber, Gary, DeNicola, Cosmo T., Kelliher, John D., Handzlik, Mark E., Fantini, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lo, Linus H.
• Application Number:
  US09/348,892
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 348/584-587, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/592, 348/14-1-, 348/14.07, 379/15, 379/53
• US Class Current: 348/586
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

A system and method for an interactive, Internet-based videoconferencing multicast operation which utilizes a video production studio with a live instructor giving lectures in real-time to multiple participating students. The videoconference multicasting permits the students to interact with the instructor and other installations during the course of the lecture. In the case of software training, the system and method also utilize Internet-based application sharing and collaboration to permit the students at remote locations to drive a studio-based computer with the software for which the training is being given. The software screen is then used as a background with the instructor being able to literally point to areas of the screen which are being discussed. The instructor has a set of monitors in the studio which allow him/her to see the students on-location. In this fashion, the students can see at their computer screens the instructor “walking” around their computer screen pointing at various items in the screen. Furthermore, a system and method for on-line testing, evaluation and reporting is disclosed wherein test questions, which can be created on the fly by a test administrator, are stored in a database and associated with one or more test numbers and whereby each time a student requests to take a test, the test is “built” and the order of the questions is randomized to avoid cheating. Test evaluation data is cross-correlated and made instantaneously available to students and their sponsoring employer.

Claims

1. A system for providing live interactive distance learning to at least one end user situated at a remote location, said system comprising:

a video recording means for producing a real-time video/audio signal of an instructor, at another location different from said remote location, against a blue background;

a video background generation means for providing at least one background signal of an instructional background;

a video mixer means, coupled to said video recording means and to said video background generation means, for combining said real-time video/audio signal with said at least one background signal to generate a real-time instruction video/audio signal which virtually positions said instructor in front of said instructional background;

first communication means coupled between said video mixer means and said remote location for transmitting said real-time instruction video/audio signal to said remote location;

at least one display positioned at said remote location for displaying said real-time instruction video/audio signal to end users at said remote location such that said instructor is depicted as being able to move around the at least one display in front of said instructional background;

a second display positioned at said another location, said second display being coupled to said video mixer means for displaying said real-time instruction video/audio signal to said instructor;

wherein said video background generation means comprises a software application station coupled to said video mixer means, said software application station running a software application thereat and providing said at least one background signal of said instructional background to said video mixer means, said instructional background being a display screen of said software application;

a computer end user workstation located at said remote location and wherein said computer end user workstation is operating said software application such that said computer end user workstation can modify said at least one background signal; and

wherein said computer end user workstation is coupled to the Internet and wherein said software application station is also coupled to said Internet, said computer end user workstation and said software application station having respective sharing and collaboration software applications activated in order to permit said computer end user workstation to control the software application station.

2. A method for providing live interactive distance learning to at least one end user situated at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of:

video-recording an instructor positioned against a blue background, at another location different from said remote location, to generate a real-time video/audio signal;

mixing said real-time video/audio signal with a video background signal representative of an instructional background to generate a real-time instruction video/audio signal that virtually positions said instructor in front of said instructional background such that said instructor is depicted as being able to move around in front of said instructional background;

transmitting said real-time instruction video/audio signal to said remote location;

displaying said real-time instruction video/audio signal to end users at said remote location and to said instructor at said another location;

wherein said instructional background is a screen display of a software application that is operating on a first computer at said remote location and that is operating on a second computer at said another location; and

linking said first computer and said second computer over a communication network using sharing and collaboration software on each of said computers to permit end users at said remote location to drive said software application operating on said first and second computers.