Method and system for examinations

• US 6,678,499 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia, Lapstun, Jacqueline Anne, Lapstun, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/609,039
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/322, 434/326, 434/350, 434/351, 434/362, 434/363, 345/179, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/106 for the sheet output section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17503 Ink cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17556 Means for regulating the pressure in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17563 Ink filters
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2114 Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids B41J2/211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/02 starting with single sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0006 by applying adhesive to a stack of sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 9/0081 applying adhesive to individual sheets for binding them together by fusing, welding B42C9/0093
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2261/04 Producing books by printing sheets in following order, e.g. for ordering via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 29/34 from supports slid from under the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3323 using document space presentation or visualization, e.g. category, hierarchy or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 : Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 : characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0248 : Avoiding fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 : Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 : Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 : Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 : Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 : Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 : Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/1423 : the instrument generating sequences of position coordinates corresponding to handwriting preprocessing or recognising digital ink G06V30/32
• 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: H04N 1/00127 : Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 : with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 : with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00334 : with an apparatus processing barcodes or the like arrangements for sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 : with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 : Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00567 : Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00968 : by scanning marks on a sheet mark-sheet input means H04N1/00355; sensing record carriers G06K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 : Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 : in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 : in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32778 : using a mark-sheet or machine-readable code request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 : Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3247 : Data linking a set of images to one another, e.g. sequence, burst or continuous capture mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3249 : data relating to a linked page or object, e.g. hyperlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3269 : of machine readable codes or marks, e.g. bar codes or glyphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 : which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 : Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 : Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 : Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 : Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 : Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 : Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 : Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 : Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The present invention concerns a system and method for enabling examinations. Employing the invention involves the use of one or more forms which support interaction with a computer system or network. Each form is printed on sheet material such as paper and includes coded data which allows it to be used to interact with the computer system via a sensing device operated by a user.

Specifically, in one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a user involved in an examination exercise with an exercise form containing coded data indicative of an identity of the exercise form and of at least one reference point of the exercise form, and receiving, in a computer system, response data from a sensing device operable by said user, said data regarding the identity of the exercise form and a position of the sensing device relative to the exercise form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the exercise form, sensing the coded data and providing said response data from said coded data.

In one aspect, the invention provides a system and method for enabling examinees to sit examinations in a controlled manner while they may be physically distant from the classroom. The examination paper may take the format of a multiple selection paper, a free response paper or a combination of the two, and the system of the invention can be utilized in the administration of the examination.

Claims

1. A method of enabling an examination, the method including the steps of:

providing a user involved in the examination with an exercise form containing;

information relating to the examination; and

coded data indicative of at least one parameter of the examination exercise;

receiving, in a computer system, data from a sensing device operable by said user, said data being indicative of said at least one parameter and of movement of the sensing device relative to the exercise form, the sensing device, when moved relative to the exercise form, sensing the data regarding said at least one parameter using at least some of the coded data and generating the data regarding its own movement relative to the exercise form; and

interpreting, in the computer system, said movement of the sensing device as it relates to said at least one parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 or 3, in which the parameter is an action parameter of the examination exercise, the method including effecting, in the computer system, an operation in respect of the action parameter.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the action parameter of the examination exercise is selected from the group comprising:

printing one or more exercise forms;

reprinting an exercise form; and

submitting a response relating to the examination exercise.

7. The method of claim 1 or 3, in which the parameter is an option parameter of the examination exercise, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a hand-drawn mark by means of a sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the option parameter.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the option parameter is associated with a multiple choice test.

12. The method of claim 1 or 3, in which the parameter is an authorization parameter of the examination exercise, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered a handwritten signature by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the authorization parameter.

13. The method of claim 12 which includes verifying, in the computer system, that the signature is that of the user.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the authorization parameter is associated with submitting a response relating to the examination exercise.

15. The method of claim 1 or 3, in which the parameter is a graphical parameter of the examination exercise, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the user has entered hand-drawn graphical information by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the graphical parameter.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the graphical parameter is associated with submitting a response to the examination exercise.

17. The method of claim 1 or 2, in which the exercise form contains information relating to at least one of:

an exercise form print time;

an examination exercise start time;

an examination exercise end time;

an examination exercise duration;

an examination exercise status;

a multiple choice examination;

a written response examination;

an examination exercise date;

an examination exercise title;

an examination exercise description;

a user'"'"'s identification; and

information for users, concerning the examination exercise.

21. The method of claim 1 or 2, which includes retaining a retrievable record of each exercise form generated, the exercise form being retrievable using its identity as contained in its coded data.

22. The method of claim 1 or 2, which includes distributing a plurality of the exercise forms using a mixture of multicast and pointcast communications protocols.

23. The method of claim 1 or 2, in which the sensing device contains an identification means which imparts a unique identity to the sensing device and identifies it as being associated with a particular user and in which the method includes monitoring, in the computer system, said identity.

24. The method of claim 1 or 2, which includes providing all required information relating to the examination exercise on the at least one exercise form, to eliminate the need for a separate display device.

25. The method of claim 1 or 2, in which the exercise form is provided on multiple pages and in which the method includes binding the pages.

26. The method of claim 1 or 2, in which additional communication means is provided between the user and a provider of the exercise form.

27. The method of claim 1 or 2, in which the exercise form is an examination paper, and in which the user is an examinee.

2. A method of enabling an examination, the method including the steps of:

providing a user involved in the examination with an exercise form containing coded data indicative of an identity of the exercise form;

receiving, in a computer system, data from a sensing device regarding an identity of the user and regarding the identity of the exercise form, the sensing device containing the data regarding the identity of the user and sensing the data regarding the identity of the exercise form using at least some of the coded data; and

identifying, in the computer system and from the data regarding the identity of the user and the identity of the exercise form, an examination activity.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the coded data is also indicative of at least one parameter of the examination exercise, and the method includes receiving, in the computer system, indicating data from the sensing device regarding said at least one parameter of the examination exercise, the sensing device sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

4. The method of claim 3 which includes receiving, in the computer system, data from the sensing device regarding movement of the sensing device relative to the exercise form, the sensing device generating data regarding its own movement relative to the exercise form.

9. The method of claim 3 in which the parameter is a text parameter of the examination exercise, the method including identifying, in the computer system, that the use has entered handwritten text data by means of the sensing device and effecting, in the computer system, an operation associated with the text parameter.

10. The method of claim 9 which includes converting, in the computer system, the handwritten text data to computer text.

11. The method of claim 9, in which the text parameter is associated with at least one of:

a user'"'"'s identification;

a response relating to the examination exercise; and

an examination exercise identification.

18. The method of claim 2 in which includes printing the exercise form on demand.

19. The method of claim 18 which includes printing the exercise form on a surface of a substrate and, at the same time that the exercise form is printed, printing the coded data on the surface.

20. The method of claim 19 which includes printing the coded data to be substantially invisible in the visible spectrum.

28. A system for enabling an examination, the system including:

at least one exercise form containing information relating to the examination; and

coded data indicative of at least one parameter of the examination exercise; and

a computer system configured to receive data from a sensing device operated by a use involved in the examination exercise, said data being indicative of said at least one parameter and of movement of the sensing device relative to the exercise form, the computer system also being configured to interpret said movement of the sensing device as it relates to said at least one parameter, the sensing device, when moved relative to the exercise form, sensing the data regarding said at least one parameter and generating the data regarding its own movement relative to the exercise form by sensing at least some of the coded data.

32. The system of claim 28 or 30, in which said at least one parameter of the examination exercise is selected from the group comprising an action parameter of the examination exercise, an option parameter of the examination exercise, a text parameter of the examination exercise, an authorization parameter of the examination exercise, and a graphical parameter of the examination exercise.

33. The system of claim 32 in which the action parameter is selected from the group comprising:

printing one or more exercise forms;

reprinting an exercise form; and

submitting a response relating to the examination exercise.

34. The system of claim 32 in which the option parameter is associated with a multiple choice test.

35. The system of claim 32 in which the text parameter is associated with at least one of:

a user'"'"'s identification;

a response relating to the examination exercise; and

an examination exercise identification.

36. The system of claim 32 in which the authorization parameter is associated with submitting a response relating to the examination exercise.

37. The system of claim 32 in which the graphical parameter is associated with submitting a response relating to the examination exercise.

38. The system of claim 28 or 29, in which the sensing device includes a marking nib.

39. The system of claim 28 or 29, in which the sensing device contains an identification means which imparts a unique identity to the sensing device and identifies it as being associated with a particular user.

40. The system of claim 28 or 29 in which the exercise form is printed on a surface of a substrate and in which the system includes a printer for printing the exercise form on the surface on demand.

41. The system of claim 40 in which the printer prints the coded data on the surface at the same time as printing the exercise form on the surface.

42. The system of claim 28 or 29, in which the coded data is substantially invisible in the visible spectrum.

43. The system of claim 28 or 29, which includes a database for keeping a retrievable record of each exercise form generated, each exercise form being retrievable by using its identity as included in its coded data.

44. The system of claim 40 in which, to cater for an exercise form printed on multiple pages, the printer includes a binding means for binding the pages.

45. The system of claim 28 or 29, including additional communication means for communication between the user and a provider of the exercise form.

46. The system of claim 28 or 29 for use by an examinee as user, in which the exercise form is an examination form.

29. A system for enabling examinations, the system including:

at least one exercise form including coded data indicative of an identity of the exercise form; and

a computer system for receiving data from a sensing device operated by a user involved in the examination exercise, said data being indicative of an identity of the user and the identity of the exercise form, the computer system also being configured to identify, from said received data, an examination activity, the sensing device containing the data regarding the identity of the user and sensing the data regarding the identity of the exercise form using at least some of the coded data.

30. The system of claim 29 in which the coded data is also indicative of at least one parameter of the examination activity, the computer system receiving indicating data from the sensing device regarding said at least one parameter of the examination activity, and the sensing device sensing the indicating data using at least some of the coded data.

31. The system of claim 30 which includes the sensing device, the sensing device sensing its movement relative to the exercise form.