System and method for adaptive knowledge access and presentation

• US 6,633,742 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Corp. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Turner, David, Frank, Waldemar
• Primary Examiner(s): GIMIE, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US09/858,237
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/219, 434/118, 434/322, 434/323, 395/927, 707/3-6
• US Class Current: 434/350
• 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: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

An adaptive performance support system is disclosed for facilitating access and presentation of information to a user. The system receives input of a scope of interest of the user including an access level, a working mode and a lesson/task/subject. The access level reflects the proficiency level of the user, such as novice, intermediate or advanced. The working mode reflects what the user wants to do, such as undertake a lesson to learn about, perform a task or browse topical or task related information on a particular subject. The lesson/task/subject is the subject matter of interest to the user. The system then selects information relevant to the chosen lesson/task/subject, oriented to the specified working mode and appropriate to the specified access level from a general pool of knowledge. The selected information is then interactively presented to the user avoiding the presentation of extraneous information.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating access and presentation of information to a user, said method comprising;

(a) receiving a first specification defining a first scope of subject-matter of interest to said user;

(b) selecting, from a plurality of knowledge objects, a first selection of at least one relevant knowledge object having a second scope within said first scope and suppressing a knowledge object in said plurality of knowledge objects which contains information outside said first scope; and

(c) presenting said first selection to said user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first scope encompasses a first access level of said user, a first working mode and a first sub-topic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification is received from said user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification further defines a first working mode, said first working mode comprising one of Learn, Perform, and Browse.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said Learn working mode comprises presentation of said information oriented in a tutorial form.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said Learn working mode is further operative to assess said user'"'"'s proficiency at said first sub-topic as instructed by said tutorial.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said Learn working mode is further operative to generate said first specification.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said Learn working mode is further operative to certify said user'"'"'s proficiency at said first sub-topic as instructed by said tutorial.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said Perform working mode comprises presentation of said information oriented in a guide form.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein said Browse working mode comprises presentation of said information in a browsable form.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification further defines a first sub-topic, said first sub-topic comprising a specific undertaking by said user including one of a lesson, task and subject.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification further defines a first access level, said first access level comprising a measure of said user'"'"'s proficiency.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification further defines a first access level and a first sub-topic from a selection of available sub-topics, said selection being dependent on said first access level, said first access level comprising a measure of the required user proficiency for said selection.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of knowledge objects comprises at least one of text, image, audio and video data.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of knowledge objects comprises content related to operation and maintenance of an ultrasound system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of knowledge objects comprises a plurality of first subsets of knowledge objects, each of said plurality of first subsets related to one of a plurality of working modes, each of said first subsets further comprising a plurality of second subsets of knowledge objects, each of said plurality of second subsets oriented to one of a plurality of sub-topics, each of said plurality first subsets further comprising a plurality of third subsets of knowledge objects, each of said plurality of third subsets appropriate to one of a plurality of access levels.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each knowledge object is comprised by a data file.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each knowledge object is comprised by a portion of a data file.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises selecting said at least one relevant knowledge object based on said at least one relevant knowledge object comprising information relevant to a first sub-topic, oriented to a first working mode and appropriate to a first access level.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein (b) further comprises selecting said at least one relevant knowledge object which comprises information appropriate to a method of presentation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said method of presentation comprises distance learning.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein (d) further comprises sequencing said at least one relevant knowledge object comprised in said first selection in a sequence order relevant to a first sub-topic, oriented to a first working mode and appropriate to a first access level.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one relevant knowledge object in said first selection is linked to another of said at least one relevant knowledge object in said first selection.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) adapting said at least one relevant knowledge object based on said first specification.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein (d) further comprises suppressing a portion of information contained within said at least one relevant knowledge object so as not to be presented.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification further defines a first access level, a first working mode and a first sub-topic and further wherein at least one of said plurality of knowledge objects further comprises a plurality of knowledge elements, each of said plurality of knowledge elements being relevant to one of a plurality of sub-topics, oriented to one of a plurality of working modes and appropriate to one of plurality of access levels, wherein (e) further comprises suppressing those of said plurality of knowledge elements in at least one of said plurality of knowledge objects in said first selection not relevant to said first sub-topic, not oriented to said first working mode and not appropriate to said first access level.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) receiving a second specification defining a second scope of subject-matter of interest to said user;

(e) selecting, from said plurality of knowledge objects, a second selection of at least one relevant knowledge object having a third scope within said second scope; and

(f) sequencing said first and second selections in an order appropriate to said first and second scopes; and

wherein (c) further comprises presenting both said first and second selections to said user according to said order.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) further comprises allowing access to at least one of said plurality of knowledge objects outside of said first scope during said presentation.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein (e) further comprises presenting a first of said at least one knowledge object in said sequence, said method further comprising:

(f) receiving interaction from said user indicating a desire to change from said first of said at least one knowledge object to a second of said at least one knowledge object in said sequence; and

(g) presenting said second of said at least one knowledge object based on said interaction.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification is received over a network and said at least one knowledge object is presented to said user over said network.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification is received from an ultrasound system and said at least one knowledge object is presented to said user via said ultrasound system.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification is received from a world wide web browser computer program and wherein each of said at least one relevant knowledge object in said first selection comprises content, (c) further comprising transmitting said content to said world wide web browser computer program.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) receiving annotation from said user;

(g) storing said annotation associated with said selection; and

(h) presenting said annotation in conjunction with said first selection.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) receiving interaction from said user with said presentation;

(g) receiving a request for assistance from said user; and

(f) providing said assistance to said user, said assistance comprising information contextually appropriate to said interaction.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) receiving a search query comprising a query for information comprised by said plurality of knowledge objects;

(g) searching said plurality of knowledge objects based on said search query and on said first working mode; and

(h) presenting results of said search relevant to said query and oriented to said first working mode.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) receiving an indication from said user to mark one or more of said at least one relevant knowledge object in said first selection for subsequent direct access by said user

(g) storing said indication in a user accessible storage, said stored indication being associated with said one or more of said at least one relevant knowledge object;

(h) presenting said user accessible storage to said user;

(i) receiving a selection of said stored indication from said user; and

(i) presenting said associated one or more of said at least one relevant knowledge object to said user.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein said first specification further defines a first sub-topic, said method further comprising:

(f) assisting said user in completion of said first sub-topic.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said first sub-topic comprises a requirement generate a report, (f) further comprising automatically generating said report.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein said first scope comprises a language for said information to be presented in and wherein (b) is further based on said first specification.

40. A system for facilitating access and presentation of information to a user, said system comprising:

a user interface operative to receive a first specification defining a first access level of said user, a second specification defining a first working mode, and a third specification defining a first sub-topic; and

a knowledge pool including a plurality of knowledge objects;

a knowledge selector coupled with said user interface and said knowledge pool and operative to select a first selection of at least one relevant of said plurality of knowledge object based on said first, second and third specifications from said knowledge pool and provide said first selection to said user interface; and

wherein said user interface is further operative to present said first selection to said user.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said first working mode comprises one of Learn, Perform, and Browse.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said first sub-topic comprises a specific undertaking by said user including one of a lesson, task and subject.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein said first access level comprises a measure of said user'"'"'s proficiency.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein each of said plurality of knowledge objects comprises at least one of text, image, audio and video data.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said plurality of knowledge objects comprise content related to operation and maintenance of an ultrasound system.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein said plurality of knowledge objects comprises a plurality of first subsets of knowledge objects, each of said plurality of first subsets related to one of a plurality of working modes, each of said first subsets further comprising a plurality of second subsets of knowledge objects, each of said plurality of second subsets oriented to one of a plurality of sub-topics, each of said plurality first subsets further comprising a plurality of third subsets, each of said plurality of third subsets appropriate to one of a plurality of access levels.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein said knowledge selector is further operative to select said at least one relevant knowledge object based on said at least one relevant knowledge object comprising information relevant to said first sub-topic, oriented to said first working mode and appropriate to said access level.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein said knowledge selector is further operative to determine which of said plurality of knowledge objects meet said first, second and third specifications.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein said knowledge selector is further operative to adapt said at least one relevant knowledge object based on at least one of said first, second and third specifications.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein said knowledge selector is further operative to suppress a portion of information contained within said at least one relevant knowledge object so as not to be presented.

51. The system of claim 40, wherein at least one of said plurality of knowledge objects further comprises a plurality of knowledge elements, each of said plurality of knowledge elements being relevant to one of a plurality of sub-topics, oriented to one of a plurality of working modes and appropriate to one of plurality of access levels, wherein said knowledge selector is further operative to suppress those of said plurality of knowledge elements in at least one of said plurality of knowledge objects in said first selection not relevant to said first sub-topic, not oriented to said first working mode and not appropriate to said first access level.

52. The system of claim 40, wherein:

said user interface is further operative to receive a fourth specification defining a second sub-topic;

said knowledge selector is further operative to select a second selection of at least one relevant knowledge object based on said first, second and fourth specifications from said plurality of knowledge objects; and

sequence said first and second selections in an order relevant to said first and second sub-topics, oriented to said first working mode and appropriate to said first access level; and

wherein said user interface is further operative to present both said first and second selections to said user according to said order.

53. The system of claim 40, wherein said user interface is further operative to present a first of said at least one knowledge object in said sequence, receive interaction from said user indicating a desire to change from said first of said at least one knowledge object to a second of said at least one knowledge object in said sequence, and present said second of said at least one knowledge object based on said interaction.

54. The system of claim 40, further comprising a network interface operative to interface said user interface with a network, and wherein user interface is further operative to receive said first, second and third specification over said network and present said at least one knowledge object to said user over said network.

55. The system of claim 40, wherein said user interface is further operative to interact with said user via an ultrasound system.

56. The system of claim 40, wherein said user interface comprises a world wide web browser computer program.

57. The system of claim 40, wherein said user interface is further operative to receive annotation from said user, store said annotation associated with said selection, and present said annotation in conjunction with said first selection.

58. The system of claim 40, further comprising a sub-topic assistant operative to automate portions of said first sub-topic.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein said first sub-topic comprises a requirement to generate a report, said sub-topic assistant being further operative to automatically generating said report.

60. The system of claim 40, wherein said user interface is further operative to receive a fourth specification defining a language for said information to be presented in and said knowledge selector is further operative to select said first selection based on said fourth specification.

61. A knowledge aggregator comprising:

a knowledge pool, said knowledge pool including a plurality of knowledge objects, each of said plurality of knowledge objects comprising content relevant to at least one sub-topic, oriented to at least one mode of access and appropriate to at least one level of competence;

an interface operative to receive a specification comprising a level of competence, a mode of access and a sub-topic;

a process coupled with said interface and said knowledge pool and operative to determine a sequence of said plurality of knowledge objects which are relevant to said sub-topic, oriented to said mode of access and appropriate to said level of competence; and

wherein said interface is further operative to provide said content of said knowledge objects in said sequence to a display coupled with said interface.

62. The knowledge aggregator of claim 61, wherein said mode of access comprises one of Learn, Perform, and Browse.

63. The knowledge aggregator of claim 61, wherein said sub-topic comprises a specific undertaking by said user.

64. The knowledge aggregator of claim 61, wherein said level of competence comprises a measure of a user'"'"'s proficiency at said sub-topic.

65. The knowledge aggregator of claim 61, wherein each of said plurality of knowledge objects comprises at least one of text, image, audio and video data.

66. The knowledge aggregator of claim 61, wherein said content of each of said plurality of knowledge objects is further composed in one of at least one language.

67. The knowledge aggregator of claim 61, wherein said process is further operative to suppress presentation of content within said each of said plurality of knowledge objects within said sequence not relevant to sub-topic, not oriented to said mode of access and not appropriate to at said level of competence.

68. A method of facilitating access and presentation of information to a user, said information being related to the operation and maintenance of an ultrasound system, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a first specification defining at least a first access level of said user;

(b) establishing a first working mode and a first sub-topic;

(c) selecting, from a plurality of knowledge objects, a first selection of at least one relevant knowledge object based on said first access level, said first working mode and said first sub-topic; and

(d) presenting said first selection to said user.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein (b) further comprises establishing said first working mode and said first sub-topic based on said first specification.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein said first specification further defines said first working mode and said first sub-topic.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein said first working mode and said first sub-topic are defined with default values where said first specification fails to define said first working mode and said first sub-topic.

72. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

(e) receiving a second specification defining said first working mode; and

(f) receiving a third specification defining said first sub-topic.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein said first working mode comprises a service working mode.

74. The method of claim 68, wherein said first sub-topic comprises a specific task to be undertaken by said user.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein said first access level comprises a measure of said user'"'"'s proficiency.

76. The method of claim 68, wherein each of said plurality of knowledge objects comprises at least one of text, image, audio and video data.

77. The method of claim 68, wherein (d) further comprises selecting said at least one relevant knowledge object based on said at least one relevant knowledge object comprising information relevant to said first sub-topic, oriented to said first working mode and appropriate to said first access level.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein (d) further comprises selecting said at least one relevant knowledge object which comprises information appropriate to a method of presentation.

79. The method of claim 68, wherein (d) further comprises suppressing a knowledge object in said plurality of knowledge objects which contains information extraneous to said first sub-topic, unoriented to said first working mode and inappropriate to said first access level.

80. The method of claim 68, wherein (d) further comprises sequencing said at least one relevant knowledge object comprised in said first selection in a sequence order relevant to said first sub-topic, oriented to said first working mode and appropriate to said first access level.

81. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

(e) adapting said at least one relevant knowledge object based on at least one of said first, second and third specifications.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein (f) further comprises suppressing a portion of information contained within said at least one relevant knowledge object so as not to be presented.

83. The method of claim 68, wherein said first specification is received over a network and said at least one knowledge object is presented to said user over said network.

84. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

(e) assisting said user in completion of said first sub-topic.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein said first sub-topic comprises a requirement generate a report, (f) further comprising automatically generating said report.

86. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

(e) receiving a second specification defining a language for said information to be presented in; and

wherein said selecting is further based on said language.

87. A method of facilitating access and presentation of information to a user, said information comprising at least one sub-topic being related to the operation and maintenance of an ultrasound system, said method comprising:

(a) establishing a content display mode;

(a) establishing a user proficiency level;

(c) selecting a sub-set of said at least one sub-topic as a function of said content display mode and said user proficiency level;

(d) receiving a selection of one of said at least one sub-topic from said sub-set; and

(e) presenting said selected one of said at least one sub-topic.