Mobile teaching system

• US 7,160,113 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EarthWalk Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EarthWalk Communications, Inc.
• Inventors: McConnell, Evan, Smith, Bryan, Tomarchio, Anthony, Vanderlip, Robert G., Caporaletti, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng; Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US11/023,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 434/219, 434/224, 434/350, 434/365, 318/280, 600/300, 379/21, 206/224, 705/43, 455/517, 320/116, 320/107, 320/111, 340/5.92, 361/683, 361/820
• US Class Current: 434/365
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/56 Computers; Screens
• 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: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile teaching system is disclosed which allows the use of personal computing devices in a learning environment. A plurality of portable computers may communicate with a portable network center to undergo lesson plans, testing, and other educational tasks. The portable computers may be stored in a mobile storage unit that may also serve as a network communications center, and may also provide power connections for the computers. The computers may include removable, rechargeable batteries, which may be recharged at the storage unit.

Claims

1. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a portable cart having one or more wheels;

a portable computing device storage and charging area having one or more shelves in said cart, wherein internal batteries of a plurality of portable computing device are charged while said portable computing device are stored on said one or more shelves;

a battery storage and charging area in said portable cart, wherein a plurality of spare rechargeable batteries are separated from and not connected to said portable computing devices, and wherein said battery storage and charging area is a drawer;

a power supply in said portable cart, wherein said power supply recharges said plurality of rechargeable batteries; and

a wireless communication server in said portable cart, wherein said server is communicatively coupled to said plurality of portable computing devices via wireless communications when said portable computing devices are removed from said cart and distributed among a plurality of students for a teaching session, and wherein said shelves store said portable computing devices when said portable computing devices are returned to said cart after said teaching session.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply is a current-limiting power supply that reduces current draw when more devices are recharging.

3. The system of claim 2, further including one or more fuses for use during said recharging.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable cart further comprises a battery changing station having a power supply line to provide electrical power to one of said computing devices while a battery in said one of said computing devices is changed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said server is communicatively coupled to a communications network external to said cart.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said communications network external to said cart is a local area network.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said communications network external to said cart is a telephone system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said battery storage and charging area is a drawer located above said one or more shelves.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said server communicates with said portable computing devices while said portable computing devices are stored within said cart.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said server updates software stored within said portable computing devices while said portable computing devices are stored within said cart.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more external folding shelves.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable computing devices includes student portable computing devices and at least one teacher portable computing device, and wherein said server is communicatively coupled to said teacher portable computing device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said teacher portable computing device monitors said student portable computing devices.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said teacher portable computing device is configured to assume control over one or more of said student portable computing devices.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said student portable computing devices include computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors of said student portable computing devices, causes said student portable computing devices to administer an examination to students.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable computing devices are laptop computers having an elongated battery extending across a front of said computer.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable computing devices are laptop computers having a built-in radio frequency antenna.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said portable computing devices are configured for use by a plurality of students in a classroom, and are stored on said one or more shelves when not in use by said students.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said portable computing devices include a keyboard, a display, and an antenna.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said power supply recharges at least thirty-two batteries at one time.

21. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a portable cart having one or more wheels;

a first storage area having one or more shelves configured to store and recharge a plurality of computing devices;

a second storage area configured to store and recharge a plurality of spare rechargeable batteries for computing devices, wherein said rechargeable batteries are separated from and not connected to said computing devices during charging, and wherein said battery storage and charging area is a drawer;

current limiting circuitry to limit current drawn by the recharging of said rechargeable batteries stored in said second storage area; and

a wireless communication server in said portable cart, wherein said server is communicatively coupled to said plurality of computing devices via wireless communications when said computing devices are removed from said cart and distributed among a plurality of students for a teaching session, and wherein said shelves store said computing devices when said computing devices are returned to said cart after said teaching session.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said computing devices are laptop computers, said first storage area having a power cord compatible with said laptop computers.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said drawer includes a plurality of molded slots to assist in the proper seating of said rechargeable batteries.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said first storage area is further configured to recharge internal batteries of said computing devices when said computing devices are stored in said first storage area, and while said second storage area recharges said rechargeable batteries separated from and not connected to said computing devices.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said power supply is configured to limit current drawn by both said first storage area and said second storage area.

26. A mobile computer teaching method, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of portable computing devices in one or more shelves of a mobile cart, and a plurality of spare rechargeable batteries which are separated from and not connected to said portable computing devices in a drawer of said mobile cart;

distributing said portable computing devices to a plurality of students for a teaching lesson while said spare recharge batteries on stored in said cart;

distributing one of said portable computing devices to a teacher, wherein said teacher portable computing device and said student portable computing devices are communicatively coupled to a wireless communication server of said mobile cart, and said teacher portable computing device monitors said student portable computing devices during said teaching lesson;

charging said plurality of spare rechargeable batteries while said batteries are stored in said cart;

using a current limiting circuit to control current drawn by charging said batteries; and

replacing internal batteries of said portable computing devices with said spare rechargeable batteries when said internal batteries reach a low charge state from said lesson.

27. A system, comprising:

a portable case having an enclosure with one or more external folding shelves on a side end;

a plurality of wheels located at a bottom end of said case, and one or more handles located at a top end of said case;

first internal portion of the case having one or more shelves configured to store a plurality of portable computing devices and charging internal batteries of said portable computing devices while stored in said first internal portion;

a second internal portion of the case storing and recharging a plurality of spare rechargeable batteries for said portable computing devices, wherein said spare batteries being disconnected from said portable computing devices while stored in said second internal portion, and wherein said second internal portion is a drawer;

power supply located in said case to provide electrical power to one or more of said portable computing devices and said spare batteries stored within said case; and

a wireless communication server in said portable case, wherein said server is communicatively coupled to said plurality of portable computing devices via wireless communications when said portable computing devices are removed from said case and distributed among a plurality of students for a teaching session, and wherein said shelves store said portable computing devices when said computing devices are returned to said case after said teaching session.