Methods and apparatus for computer based training relating to devices

• US 6,514,085 B2
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skillsoft Ireland Limited (SkillSoft Limited)
• Original Assignee: Element K Online LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Slattery, Terrance C., Coville, Shawn G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/365,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/322, 434/323, 434/219, 434/220, 434/221, 434/222, 434/223, 434/224, 434/118, 434/262, 434/335
• US Class Current: 434/335
• 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

Methods and Systems for training a user regarding controlling a device. Through these methods and systems a user may remotely access a device in order to perform an assignment or task designed to train the user in the operation of the device. The user is able to access the devices through a user computer that is remotely connected to a pod controller. This connection may traverse a Internet or Intra-net, or it may be a direct connection. The pod controller receives device control information sent from the user and translates it so it can be directly fed into the device, thus, providing the user with actual control over the device.

Claims

1. A method for training a user, the method comprising:

receiving control information having at least one training instruction regarding at least one task to be performed as part of a training exercise;

reassigning at least one device from a second set of one or more devices to a first set of one or more devices based upon requirements of the training exercise;

managing a set of devices in the first set required to perform the training exercise; and

directing one or more of the required devices to execute the at least one training instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a system controller is connected to the client computer via the network, further comprising:

receiving exercise start information at the system controller reflecting a request from the client computer that a training exercise begin;

determining initialization information based on the exercise start information received at the system controller;

transmitting the initialization information from the system controller to the device controller; and

initializing the set of one or more devices in accordance with the initialization information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is an Internet, and wherein there is a firewall between the Internet and the device controller, further comprising:

transmitting access information to the firewall in response to receiving exercise start information so that the client computer is permitted to access the set of one or more devices through the firewall.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is an Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is an Intranet.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a result of the operation to the client computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the set of one or more devices is a network device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network device is a router.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the network device is a switch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the set of one or more devices is a computer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer is a programmable logic controller.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the device controller transferring reset information to at least one of the devices in the set of one or more devices after completion of the training exercise so that the device may be placed in an initial state.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the control information received at the device controller is in a first network protocol, further comprising:

the device controller translating the control information from the first network protocol to a second network protocol prior to transmitting the control information.

14. A system for training users, the system comprising:

a device controller connected to one or more client machines via a network, the device controller receiving control information from the one or more client machines, the control information having at least one training instruction regarding at least one task to be performed as part of a training exercise;

an infrastructure control module that reassigns at least one device from a second set of one or more devices to a first set of one or more devices based upon requirements of the training exercise; and

a control system that manages a set of devices in the first set required to perform the training exercise, the control system directing the one or more required devices to execute the at least one training instruction.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a system controller connected to the client computer and to the device controller that is capable of receiving exercise start information reflecting a request from the client computer that a training exercise begin, determining initialization information based on the exercise start information received, and transmitting the initialization information to the device controller for the purpose of initializing the set of one or more devices in accordance with the initialization information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the network is an Internet, and wherein there is

a firewall between the Internet and the device controller,

wherein the system controller is further capable of transmitting access information to the firewall in response to receiving exercise start information so that the client computer is permitted to access the set of one or more devices through the firewall.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the network is an Internet.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the network is an Intranet.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the devices in the set of devices is a network device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the network device is a router.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the network device is a switch.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the device is a computer.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer is a programmable logic controller.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the device controller is further capable of transferring reset information to at least one of the devices in the set of one or more devices after completion of the training exercise so that the device may be placed in an initial state.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the control information received at the device controller is in a first network protocol, and wherein the device controller is further capable of translating the control information from the first network protocol to a second network protocol prior to transmitting the control information.

26. A system for training users, the system comprising:

a device controller including;

receiving means for receiving control information, the control information having at least one training instruction from one or more client machines regarding at least one task to be performed as part of a training exercise;

reassigning means for reassigning at least one device from a second set of one or more devices to a first set of one or more devices based upon requirements of the training exercise; and

control means for managing a set of devices in the first set required to perform the training exercise, the control means directing the one or more required devices to execute the at least one training instruction.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

a system controller including;

means for receiving exercise start information reflecting a request from the client computer that a training exercise begin,

means for determining initialization information based on the exercise start information received; and

wherein the device controller further includes

means for receiving the initialization information from the system controller; and

means for initializing the set of one or more devices in accordance with the initialization information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the network is an Internet, and wherein there is a firewall between the Internet and the system, wherein the system controller further comprises:

means for transmitting access information to the firewall in response to receiving exercise start information so that the client computer is permitted to access the set of one or more devices through the firewall.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the network is an Internet.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the network is an Intranet.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the devices in the set of devices is a network device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the network device is a router.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the network device is a switch.

34. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the devices in the set of devices is a computer.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the computer is a programmable logic controller.

36. The system of claim 26, wherein the device controller further includes means for transferring reset information to the device after completion of the training exercise so that the device may be placed in an initial state.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein the device controller further includes:

means for translating the control information from a first network protocol to a second network protocol prior to transmitting the control information.

38. A system comprising:

a control system that receives control information having at least one training instruction regarding at least one task to be performed as part of a training exercise, the control system managing one or more devices in a first set of one or more devices which are required to perform the training exercise, the control system directing a set of the one or more required devices to execute the at least one training instruction; and

an infrastructure control module that reassigns at least one device from a second set of one or more devices to the set of one or more required devices based upon requirements of the training exercise.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the control system enables one or more client machines sending the control information to remotely access the set of the one or more required devices to perform the training exercise on the set of the one or more required devices.

40. The system of claim 38 further comprising a user communication module that translates the received control information morn a first network protocol understood by one or more client machines to a second protocol understood by the set of one or more required devices.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein the control system receives exercise start information from one or more client machines, the exercise start information reflecting a request from the one or more client machines that the training exercise begin, the control system determining initialization information based upon the received exercise start information, the control system initializing the set of one or more required devices in accordance with the initialization information.

42. The system of claim 41 further comprising a firewall established between a network and the control system, the control system transmitting access information through the firewall in response to receiving the exercise start information to authorize the one or more client machines to access at least one device in the set of one or more required devices.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of the devices in the set of one or more required devices is a network device, a router or a switch.

44. The system of claim 38 wherein the control system transfers reset information to at least one of the devices in the set of one or more required devices upon completing the training exercise to place the at least one device in an initial state.

45. A method comprising:

receiving control information having at least one training instruction regarding at least one task to be performed as part of a training exercise;

managing one or more devices in the first set of one or more devices which are required to perform the training exercise;

directing a set of the one or more required devices to execute the at least one training instruction; and

reassigning at least one device from a second set of one or more devices to the set of the one or more required devices based upon requirements of the training exercise.

46. The method of claim 45 further comprising enabling one or more client machines sending the control information to remotely access the set of the one or more required devices to perform the training exercise on the set of the one or more required devices.

47. The method of claim 45 further comprising translating the received control information from a first network protocol to a second network protocol.

48. The method of claim 45 further comprising:

receiving exercise start information reflecting a request from one or more client machines that the training exercise begin;

determining initialization information based upon the received exercise start information; and

initializing the set of the one or more required devices in accordance with the initialization information.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising transmitting access information through a firewall in response to receiving the exercise start information to authorize the one or more client machines to access at least one device in the set of the one or more required devices.

50. The method of claim 45 further comprising transmitting reset information to at least one device in the set of the one or more required devices upon completion of the training exercise to place the at least one device in an initial state.

51. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform:

receiving control information having at least one training instruction regarding at least one task to be performed as part of a training exercise;

managing one or more devices in the first set of one or more devices which are required to perform the training exercise;

directing a set of the one or more required devices to execute the at least one training instruction; and

reassigning at least one device from a second set of one or more devices to the set of the one or more required devices based upon requirements of the training exercise.

52. The medium of claim 51 further comprising enabling one or more client machines sending the control information to remotely access the set of the one or more required devices to perform the training exercise on the set of the one or more required devices.

53. The medium of claim 51 further comprising translating the received control information from a first network protocol to a second network protocol.

54. The medium of claim 51 further comprising:

receiving exercise start information reflecting a request from one or more client machines that the training exercise begin;

determining initialization information based upon the received exercise start information; and

initializing the set of the one or more required devices in accordance with the initialization information.

55. The medium of claim 54 further comprising transmitting access information through a firewall in response to receiving the exercise start information to authorize one or more client machines to access at least one device in the set of the one or more required devices.

56. The medium of claim 51 further comprising transmitting reset information to at least one device in the set of the one or more required devices upon completion of the training exercise to place the at least one device in an initial state.