System and method for improved learning of foreign languages using indexed database

• US 6,482,011 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1999
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yu, Won Uk, Lee, Jae Kyung, Ko, Myoung Hwa, Kang, Dae Yeon, Chun, Ik Seung
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Christman, Kathleen M.
• Application Number:
  US09/260,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 434/159, 434/169, 434/156, 434/167, 434/350, 434/118, 434/119, 434/322, 434/158, 434/365
• US Class Current: 434/157
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/06 Foreign languages with audible presentation of material to be studied G09B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• 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

Disclosed is a learning data base building method which can achieve data update in an optimum memory size and simultaneously build a systematic data configuration. Moreover, a video apparatus having a learning function and learning function control method therefor which can provide systematic, simple and effective learning by using a learning data base. The learning data base building method includes the steps of arranging vocabulary data in order of frequency in use thereof, grouping the arranged vocabulary data classified by subjects, and producing index for reading in consecutive order the groups of the vocabulary data classified by subjects.

Claims

1. A video apparatus having a learning function, comprising:

a learning data base in which vocabulary learning data and vocabulary learning data reading index are stored, wherein vocabulary learning data is organized by level of difficulty, subject and frequency of use;

a caption processing part for processing video data to be displayed on a screen in a caption form;

a control part for reading the vocabulary learning data corresponding to contents set by a user, if a learning function demand is made by the user, and for controlling said caption processing part to display the vocabulary learning data on the screen in the caption form;

a switching part for inputting an output signal from said caption processing part and a video apparatus control on screen display signal, respectively and for selectively outputting the inputted signals in accordance with the switching signal of said control part; and

a video processing part for inputting an output signal of said switching part and a broadcasting video signal, respectively and for performing a video signal processing for the inputted signals to be displayed on the screen, wherein the video apparatus includes means for displaying the vocabulary learning data according to a predetermined number of display repetitions, and for a predetermined display period.

2. The video apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface part for performing data exchange between said learning data base and said caption processing part.

3. The video apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a learning diagnostic memory in which test problems classified by learning levels for recognizing the rate of learning progress corresponding to a user are stored.

4. A video apparatus having a learning function, comprising:

a learning data base in which vocabulary learning data and vocabulary learning data reading index are stored, wherein the vocabulary learning data is organized by level of difficulty, subject, and frequency of use;

a learning diagnostic memory in which test problems classified by learning levels for recognizing the rate of learning progress corresponding to a user are stored;

a font ROM in which fonts for display the vocabulary learning data and the test problems classified by learning levels on a screen are stored; and

a control part for reading the corresponding data in said learning data base or said learning diagnostic memory, if a learning function demand or a learning diagnostic function demand is made by the user and for matching the corresponding fonts from said font ROM to perform an on screen display signal processing, thus to output the processed signal.

5. The video apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a switching part for inputting the vocabulary learning data in the on screen display form, respectively to selectively output the input signals in accordance with the switching signal of said control part, and a video signal processing part for inputting an output signal of said switching part and a broadcasting video signal, respectively and for performing a video signal processing for the inputted signals to be displayed on the screen.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the vocabulary data classified by subject to the frequency of use, and wherein the ordered vocabulary data is classified by subject.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vocabulary data classified by subject is indexed according to levels of difficulty, and wherein a start index indicates a start position for each of the levels of difficulty.

8. A video apparatus having a learning function, comprising:

a first memory in which vocabulary learning data and vocabulary learning data reading index are stored, wherein the vocabulary learning data is organized to have a user-selectable start position according to levels of difficulty, and within each of said levels of difficulty an indexed position indicates frequency of use and subject;

a second memory in which test problems classified by learning levels for recognizing the rate of learning progress corresponding to a user are stored;

a third memory in which voice learning data corresponding to video learning data is stored;

an interface part for configured to input and output the data stored in said first to third memories to correspond with a learning related command issued by the user which is inputted by means of a remote controller or a key panel;

a microcomputer configured to control said interface part and convert the data outputted from said interface part into an on screen display form to thereby output the converted data;

a video processing part that video-processes a broadcasting video signal and the converted data in the on screen display form;

a voice signal switching part configured to selectively output the voice learning data or a broadcasting voice signal outputted from said third memory by said interface part under the control of said microcomputer; and

a voice signal processing part configured to process the output of said voice signal switching part.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a start index indicates said start position by the user, and wherein said start index is indicative of a number of vocabulary in said level of difficulty.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the video apparatus includes means for displaying the vocabulary learning data according to a predetermined number of display repetitions, and for a predetermined display period.

11. A learning function control method in a video apparatus having a learning function, said method comprising:

determining whether a learning mode set command or a learning mode execution command is inputted by a user;

if said learning mode set command is inputted, displaying a learning mode set screen and setting a learning mode by the user, wherein setting the learning mode includes selecting a level of difficulty, a number of display repetitions, and a display period; and

if said learning mode execution command is inputted, reading learning data corresponding to a preset learning mode from a learning data storing part, performing a video signal process for the data read, and displaying the processed signal in a predetermined display form on a screen, wherein the learning data is organized by level of difficulty, subject and frequency of use.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein setting the learning mode further comprises selecting the learning data to be displayed at the selected level of difficulty.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein setting the learning mode includes setting learning mode user and execution start/cancel items.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the learning mode user and execution start/cancel items set in the learning mode by users as the learning mode are applied to the learning mode.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined display form comprises a predetermined vocabulary and meaning thereof.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein in said displaying step of the learning data on the screen a display item of the learning data is comprised of vocabulary/phonetic symbol/interpretation/synonym number/origin of the vocabulary.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined display form includes a predetermined number of display items selected by the user.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined display form comprises a first language and a second language.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined display form includes a designation for display on a top or bottom portion of the screen in accordance with a user selection.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising simultaneously displaying recently displayed learning data and a corresponding number of display repetitions in accordance with the selection of the user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein recently displayed learning data comprises vocabulary and meaning thereof.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying vocabulary test problems corresponding to a current learning level in accordance with the selection of the user and determining whether an answer inputted through a remote controller or a key panel on the body of the video apparatus is correct to thereby check the rate of learning progress of the user in a learning diagnostic mode.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said displaying step in the learning diagnostic mode comprises:

displaying a praise message on the screen, if the answer inputted by the user is correct; and

displaying an encouragement message on the screen, if the answer inputted by a the user is not correct.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said encouragement message displaying step in the learning diagnostic mode comprises the step of upgrading the learning level set in the learning mode by time or users.

25. A learning control method of a video apparatus having a learning function, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether a learning function execution command is inputted;

(b) if inputted, determining a current learning position and reading learning data corresponding to the current learning position from a learning data storing part;

(c) displaying during a predetermined time period the learning data read on a screen and reading learning data corresponding to next learning position; and

repeating said step (c) until a learning function stop command is inputted.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said learning position is a start position classified by learning levels previously set or a previous learning completion position of a user.