Method and system for remote electronic monitoring and mentoring of computer assisted performance support

• US 6,871,195 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E-Promentor
• Original Assignee: E-Promentor
• Inventors: Ryan, Michael, Mehra, Munish, Wizemann, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US09/950,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 706/46, 434/118
• US Class Current: 706/46
• 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

Method and system for computer assisted performance support include remote electronic monitoring and mentoring to provide for supervision, control and instruction of the worker while the worker performs directed tasks. Activity data representative of worker activities are collected at the work site and can be accessed by a supervisor located remote from the work site. The remote supervisor generates and transmits to the worker feedback based on the activity data. The remote supervisor can evaluate an activity trail of a worker'"'"'s performance of directed tasks and development of skills through educational training to permit timely identification and correction of worker deficiencies. The ability of the remote supervisor to transmit feedback to the worker while the worker is performing directed tasks enhances rapid development of the worker'"'"'s skills and workplace safety and productivity.

Claims

1. A method for electronic mentoring of computer assisted performance support comprising the steps of:

identifying directed tasks to be performed;

collecting at a work data processing, storage and transfer module activity data representative of performance of each of the directed tasks;

storing the activity data to permit retrieval from a remote data processing, storage and transfer module; and

providing for generation of performance feedback at the remote module and transmission of the feedback to the work module.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transmitting the activity data to the remote module.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting of the activity data is performed in real time.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

transmitting the feedback to the work module in real time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback includes at least one of supervisory input and task performance control instructions.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step:

controlling whether the directed tasks can continue to be performed based on an evaluation of the activity data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling is initiated at the remote module.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlling is initiated at the work module.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying step further comprises:

identifying a sequence of directed tasks and dependencies between the tasks to be performed.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing an educational and training information database, wherein at least one of the directed tasks is linked to information contained in the database.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information database can be accessed from the work module at any time.

12. A method for electronic mentoring of computer assisted performance support comprising the steps of:

providing an educational and training information database;

providing a work data processing, storage and transfer module for educating, directing and controlling action of a user of the work module;

storing in a monitoring database activity data representative of actions taken by the user;

providing for transmission of the activity data from the monitoring database to a remote data processing, storage and transfer module; and

providing for reception at the work module of feedback transmitted from the remote module and generated based on an evaluation of the activity data.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

storing data representative of the user'"'"'s accessing the information database as the activity data.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

storing data representative of test results obtained based on the user'"'"'s accessing the information database as the activity data.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

controlling action of the user based on evaluation of the activity data at at least one of the work module and the remote module.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the activity data and the feedback are transmitted in real time.

17. A system for electronic mentoring of computer assisted performance support comprising:

a work data processing, storage and transfer module including a work support tool and an education and training information tool, wherein the work support tool directs and controls tasks to be performed by a user;

wherein the work module includes a monitoring tool for collecting activity data representative of the user'"'"'s actions and for transmitting the activity data to a remote data processing, storage and transfer module, wherein the remote module includes an activity evaluation tool for generating and transmitting feedback, and wherein the work support tool receives and displays to the user the feedback transmitted from the remote module.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitoring tool transmits the activity data to the remote module in real time.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the monitoring tool stores data representative of the user'"'"'s utilization of the information tool as the activity data.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the work module controls the tasks to be performed by the user after evaluating the activity data.

21. The system of claim 17, where the feedback includes at least one of supervisory input and task performance control instructions.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the work module controls the tasks to be performed by the user based on the task performance control instructions.

23. A system for electronic mentoring of computer assisted performance support comprising:

a central data processing, storage and transfer module for identifying directed tasks to be performed at a work module;

collecting activity data representative of performance of each of the directed tasks, and

storing the activity data at the central module, wherein the central module is adapted to permit retrieval of the activity data by a remote module, receipt of feedback generated at, and transmitted to the central module from, the remote module and the transmission of the feedback to the work module.