Method and apparatus for the production and integrated delivery of educational content in digital form

• US 6,595,781 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspen Research Limited
• Original Assignee: Aspen Research Limited
• Inventors: Sutton, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T.
• Application Number:
  US09/885,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20020197593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 434/276, 434/433, 434/308, 434/307.R, 434/315, 434/350, 434/365, 434/362, 434/118, 434/151
• US Class Current: 434/276
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and apparatus are disclosed for use in the capture, compilation, production and delivery of integrated educational and/or training programs in digital form. A wide range of alternative structures and acts are described to illustrate the adaptability of the invention, including a comprehensive disclosure of the prototype system used to create and deliver a fully accredited, four-unit course on the law of Commercial Torts.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing a multimedia educational program in digital form, including:

(a) means for capturing and storing as time-based digital performance files the sounds, actions or events produced by at least one person involved in the rendition of an informational presentation over a period of time;

(b) means for compiling and storing as digital content files a plurality of informational expressions related in subject matter and sequence to selected time segments within said performance files;

(c) means for generating a screen having multiple predetermined and functionally independent frames including (i) a first frame to receive and display a selected performance file depicting at least a portion of said informational presentation and (ii) supplemental frames to separately receive and display selected content files in a defined order and in defined synchronization relative to the display of the selected performance file in said first frame;

(d) means for displaying a selected performance file within said first frame while entering selected content files, in said defined order and synchronization, for display within selected supplemental frames of said screen; and

,

(e) means for generating and storing as digitally-readable script files, time-based records of when each selected content file is displayed in each of the supplemental frames in chronological relating to the display of the selected performance file in said first frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means (d) and (e) initially function on an approximately concurrent basis in the production of said digital program.

3. Apparatus for receiving and displaying a multimedia program produced by the apparatus of claim 1, including at the site of an independent user:

means for receiving said performance and content files;

means for generating a screen having multiple predetermined and functionally independent frames including (i) a first display frame to receive and display a time-based digital performance file and (ii) supplemental display frames to separately receive and display selected content files;

means for displaying a selected time-based performance file within said first frame and selectively displaying corresponding content files in the predetermined order and synchronization defined by the digital entries stored in said script files.

4. Apparatus for producing a multimedia educational program in digital form, including:

(a) audio, video and computer-based hardware to capture and store as time-based digital performance files the sounds, actions and events produced by at least one person involved in the rendition of an educational presentation over a period of time;

(b) computer-based hardware to compile and store as digital content files a plurality of informational expressions related in subject matter to selected time segments within said performance files;

(c) computer-based hardware to generate a screen having multiple predetermined and functionally independent frames including (i) a first frame to receive and display a selected performance file depicting at least a portion of said educational presentation and (ii) a plurality of supplemental frames to separately receive and display selected content files in a defined order and in defined synchronization relative to the display of the selected performance file in said first frame;

(d) computer-based hardware to display a selected performance file within said first frame while entering selected content files, in said defined order and synchronization, for display within selected supplemental frames of said screen; and

,

(e) computer-based hardware to generate and store as digitally-readable script files, time-based records of when each selected content file is displayed in each of the plurality of supplemental frames in chronological relation to the display of the selected performance file in said first frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein hardware elements (d) and (e) are initially operated on an approximately concurrent basis in the production of said digital program.

6. Apparatus for receiving and displaying a multimedia educational program produced by the apparatus of claim 4, including at the site of an independent user:

computer-based hardware to receive and at least temporarily store said performance and content files;

computer-based hardware to generate a screen having multiple predetermined and functionally independent frames including (i) a first display frame to receive and display a time-based digital performance file and (ii) a plurality of supplemental display frames to separately receive and display selected content files;

computer-based hardware, controlled by and responsive to said digital script files, to display a selected time-based performance file within said first frame while selecting and displaying corresponding content files in the predetermined order and synchronization defined by said script files.

7. A computer-implemented multimedia presentation for display on a digital monitor, comprising in combination:

(a) a screen having predetermined frames for independently receiving and displaying digital files on said monitor;

(b) a time-based performance file including digital audio and video content for display in a first of said predetermined frames;

(c) digital content files for display in a second of said predetermined frames;

(d) digital content files for display in a third of said predetermined frames;

(e) digitally-readable script files for controlling the computer-implemented selection and display of said digital content files in chronological response to the display of said time-based performance file.

8. The computer-implemented presentation of claim 7, further including:

(e) digital content files for display in a fourth of said predetermined frames.

9. The computer-implemented presentation of claim 8 wherein

the digital content files displayed in said second frame are selected from the group consisting of graphic, text, video, audio, and interactive content files;

and,

the digital content files displayed in the third and fourth frames are text-based content files.

10. The computer-implemented presentation of claim 9 wherein

the digital files displayed in the second frame selectively supplement the content within concurrently displayed segments of the time-based performance file;

the digital files displayed in the third frame selectively summarize the conceptual content within concurrently displayed segments of the time-based performance file; and

,

the digital files displayed in the fourth frame selectively identify the topical content within the concurrently displayed segments of the time-based performance file.

11. A method for producing a multimedia presentation for display on a digital monitor, including the steps of:

(a) generating on said monitor a screen having multiple independent frames of fixed configuration for separately receiving and displaying digital files;

(b) selecting and storing a time-based performance file having digital audio and video elements for display in a first of said frames over a predetermined period of time;

(c) selecting and storing a plurality of digital content files for separate display in a second of said frames beginning at different selected times during the display of said performance file in the first frame;

(d) selecting and storing a plurality of digital content files for separate display in a third of said frames beginning at different times during the display of said performance file in the first frame;

(e) generating and storing as digitally-readable script files, time-based records of when selected digital content files are displayed in each of the second and subsequent frames in chronological relation to the display of the selected performance file in the first frame.

12. The method of claim 11 including the intermediate step of:

selecting and storing a plurality of digital content files for separate display in a fourth of said frames beginning at different times during the display of said performance file in the first frame.

13. A method for displaying a multimedia presentation on a computer controlled monitor having a screen with multiple predefined and functionally independent frames for receiving and displaying digital files, said method including the steps of:

(a) storing at least portions of a time-based performance file having digital audio and video elements for sequential display in a first of said frames over a predetermined period of time;

(b) storing on at least a temporary basis digital content files for separate display in a second of said frames commencing at different predetermined times during the display of said performance file in the first frame;

(c) storing on at least a temporary basis digital content files for separate display in a third of said frames commencing at different predetermined times during the display of said performance file in the first frame; and

,

(d) displaying the performance file in the first frame while selectively displaying the digital content files in the second and subsequent frames in controlled response to digitally-readable script files, comprising time-based records of when each digital content file is displayed in each of the second and subsequent frames in chronological relation to the display of the performance file in the first frame.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the storing and displaying steps are executed on the same computer.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the storing and displaying steps are executed on different computers.

16. The method of claim 13 further including the intermediate step of:

storing a plurality of digital content files for separate display in a fourth of said frames commencing at different predetermined times during the display of said performance file in the first frame.

17. A method for producing and delivering an educational program in digital form, including the steps of:

(a) capturing and storing as time-based digital performance files the sounds, actions and events produced by at least one person involved in the rendition of an educational presentation over a period of time;

(b) compiling and storing as digital content files a plurality of informational expressions related in subject matter to selected time segments within said educational presentation;

(c) generating a screen having multiple predetermined and functionally independent frames including (i) a first frame for receiving and displaying at least one performance file depicting said educational presentation and (ii) a plurality of supplemental frames for separately receiving and displaying selected content files in a defined order and in defined synchronization relative to the display of said performance file in said first frame;

(d) displaying at least one of said time-based performance files within said first frame while selectively entering said content files, in said defined order and synchronization, for display within selected supplemental frames of said screen; and

(e) generating and storing as digitally-readable script files, time-based records of when selected content files are displayed in each of the plurality of supplemental frames in chronological relation to the display of a selected performance file in said first frame.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein step (e) is performed approximately concurrently with an initial performance of step (d).

19. The method of claim 18 wherein steps (d) and (e) are repeated while the at least one content file is added or modified and a corresponding script file is generated to incorporate said modification into the educational program for subsequent delivery to users.

20. An educational program in digital form produced by the method of claim 19.

21. An educational program in digital form produced by the method of claim 18.

22. The method of claim 17 including the subsequent repeated performance of step (c) followed by the repeated performance of all or part of step (d) in controlled response to the previously generated digitally-readable script files.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein at least one subsequent repetition of step (d) is performed in response to a command from an independent user before said frames and their contents are displayed on the user'"'"'s separately generated screen.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein a repetition of step (d) is initiated in response to the transmission of at least one authorization file from a remote site to the location of the independent user.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the repetition of step (d) is performed in substantial part in controlled response to digital information physically transported to the site of the independent user'"'"'s screen.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein a repetition of step (d) is performed in substantial part in controlled response to digital information electronically transmitted to the site of the independent user'"'"'s screen.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein an independent user creates and digitally stores individual files during a repetition of step (d), said individual files being related to the subject matter of at least one of the performance and content files.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one portion of an individual file is displayed in a predetermined portion of the independent user'"'"'s screen.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the repetition of step (d) is performed in substantial part in controlled response to digital information physically transported to the site of the independent user'"'"'s screen.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein a repetition of step (d) is performed in substantial part in controlled response to digital information electronically transmitted to the site of the independent user'"'"'s screen.

31. An educational program in digital form produced by the method of claim 17.