Personalized internet access

• US 6,629,843 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Business Gates S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Business Gates S.p.A.
• Inventors: Howell, James, Bunting, Roy, Bunting, Kimberley, Davis, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John
• Application Number:
  US09/816,270
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/350
• US Class Current: 434/118
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0053 Computers, e.g. programming

Abstract

Present herein is a technique for providing computer and internet access for a group of participants, which can include economically disadvantaged persons. An orientation is first conducted wherein computer technical skills are taught. After the orientation, a computer is provided and installed in the homes of each participant. During installation, the participant is provided with additional training. Internet access is also provided for the participant through a partnership with the local telecommunications provider.

Claims

1. A method for teaching participants how to use a computer installed in each of the participant'"'"'s residences, responsive to attending an orientation session, said method comprising:

signing a participant on to a predetermined web site;

receiving demographic data from the participant;

selecting a plurality of on-line course selections from a curriculum based on the participants'"'"' demographic data;

displaying the plurality of on-line course selections for the participant;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of on-line courses;

storing at least one time in a calendar associated with the at least one on-line course;

scheduling the participant for the at least one on-line course;

conducting the at least one on-line course; and

administering a final exam associated with the at least one on-line course.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the demographic data comprises data selected from the group consisting participants goals, career choices, participant interests, hobbies, family data, disability data, and education data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein scheduling the participant for the at least one course further comprises checking the calendar for conflicts with other times.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking the participant'"'"'s time spent in each of the at least one on-line course.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the participant requires translation; and

translating an electronic message from a server to the participant.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the participant is visually impaired; and

transmitting audible signals corresponding to an electronic message from the server to the participant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the installation of the computer is free to the participant.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing automated help to the participant, responsive to a request from the participant.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting another plurality of on-line courses to the participant after administering the final exam, wherein the another plurality of on-line courses are selected based on the participants goals and career interests, and wherein the another plurality of on-line courses excludes the at least one on-line course.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating the final exam;

determining whether the user passed the final exam; and

wherein the user passed the final exam, crediting the user for the at least one on-line course.

11. A system operable to provide computerized training materials to a client computer, the system comprising:

a network interface operable to connect to a network of client computers;

a database comprising a computer memory portion operable to store participant information and curriculum information;

a server electrically connected to the network interface and the database, wherein the server is operable to provide a graphic user interface to a client computer, wherein the server comprises a computer memory encoded with instruction for performing the following;

signing a participant on to a predetermined web site through a client computer;

receiving demographic data from the participant;

storing the demographic data in a portion of the database corresponding to the participant;

selecting a plurality of on-line course selections from the curriculum based on the participant'"'"'s demographic data;

displaying the plurality of on-line course selections for the participant;

receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of on-line courses;

storing at least one time in a portion of the database corresponding to the participant'"'"'s calendar, wherein the at least one time corresponds to the selected course(s);

scheduling the participant for the at least one on-line course;

conducting the at least one on-line course; and

administering a final exam associated with the at least one on-line course.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the computer memory encoded with instructions for scheduling the participant further comprises instructions for comparing the schedule for the at least one on-line course with the participant'"'"'s schedule to determine if a conflict exists.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the computer memory in the server is further encoded with instructions for tracking the participant'"'"'s time spent in each of the at least one on-line course.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the server further comprises a translator for translating electronic messages from the server into another language, wherein the translator comprises a computer memory encoded with instructions for determining whether the participant requires a translation and instructions for translating an electronic messages from the server to the participant.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein the server further comprises a transcriber for transcribing electronic messages from the server into audio messages, wherein the transcriber comprises a computer memory encoded with instructions for:

determining if the participant is visually impaired; and

transmitting audible signals corresponding to an electronic message from the server to the participant.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the client computer is provided and installed at the participant'"'"'s home at no cost to the participant.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the computer memory in the server is further encoded with instructions for providing automated help to the participant, responsive to a request from the participant.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the computer memory in the server is further encoded with instructions for presenting another plurality of on-line courses to the participant after administering the final exam, wherein the another plurality of on-line courses are selected based on the participants goals and career interests, and wherein the another plurality of on-line courses excludes the at least one on-line course.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the computer memory in the server is further encoded with instructions for:

evaluating the final exam;

determining whether the user passed the final exam; and

wherein the user passed the final exam, crediting the user for the at least one on-line course.