Runtime program regression analysis tool for a simulation engine

• US 7,433,852 B1
• Filed: 02/08/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bertrand, Benoit Patrick, Wills, Kerry Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buss; Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US09/868,743
• Time in Patent Office: 3,529 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/60, 706/46, 706/59, 706/50, 706/11, 706/47, 713/300, 707/10, 434/118, 434/322, 434/323, 434/350, 714/100, 714/1, 714/25, 714/27, 714/28, 714/20, 714/46, 714/57, 714/701, 714/746, 708/100, 708/160, 717/124, 717/130, 715/705, 715/708
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/925 Business

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. The system includes tools for analysis, logging and display of regression analysis information for a presentation as it is presented.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for creating a presentation to a user, comprising:

(a) presenting information indicative of a goal, the goal being associated with a skill required for the user in a business endeavor;

(b) integrating information that motivates accomplishment of the goal;

(c) monitoring progress toward the goal and providing feedback that further motivates accomplishment of the goal, wherein;

the feedback is characterized by a set of profiles and topics;

the profiles trigger the topics in a concept tree to obtain a plurality of activated topics; and

the feedback is selected from the plurality of activated topics in the concept tree by;

identifying a top-most target group with an activated topic;

if the top-most target group is a first type of feedback, selecting that feedback for display to the user without examining any other activated topics;

if the top-most target group is a second type of feedback different from the first type of feedback, grouping the activated feedback in the children target groups for display to the user;

(d) receiving an activity description and a corresponding activity log, the activity description being descriptive of an improper operation of the computer-executed instructions associated with at least one user submission incurred during the presentation, the improper operation being detected by the user from the feedback, the corresponding activity log being indicative of the at least one user submission correlated to the improper operation and the feedback associated with the at least one user submission;

(e) performing regression analysis of the computer-executable instructions as the presentation subsequently executes, wherein the regression analysis utilizes the activity description and the corresponding activity log to recreate the improper operation; and

(f) in response to (e), altering the set of profiles and topics based on a developer input to correct the feedback by adding an additional profile that triggers an additional topic to the user when the additional profile is activated, the additional profile including a set of conditions met by work submitted by the user, the altered set of profiles and topics addressing a specific combination of mistakes performed by the user as monitored in (c).

2. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including instantiating a particular feedback model based on the regression analysis.

3. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including receiving and analyzing user responses using an expert system to determine details of the computer-executable instructions to store.

4. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including storing user interactions with the presentation as the presentation executes.

5. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including playing back user interactions with the presentation.

6. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including printing a report based on the regression analysis.

7. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including organizing the regression analysis information in a company preferred manner to facilitate performance metrics for the company.

8. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including presenting a tailored simulation based on the regression analysis as the presentation executes.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, including presenting a tailored simulation based on the regression analysis as the presentation executes.

10. An apparatus that creates a presentation to a user, comprising:

(a) a processor that executes a computer program to support the presentation;

(b) a memory that stores information under the control of the processor;

(c) logic that presents information indicative of a goal, the goal being associated with a skill required for the user in a business endeavor;

(d) logic that integrates information that motivates accomplishment of the goal;

(e) logic that monitors progress toward the goal and provides feedback that further motivates accomplishment of the goal, wherein;

the feedback is characterized by a set of profiles and topics;

the profiles trigger the topics in a concept tree to obtain a plurality of activated topics; and

the feedback is selected from the plurality of activated topics in the concept tree by;

identifying a top-most target group with an activated topic;

if the top-most target group is a first type of feedback, selecting that feedback for display to the user without examining any other activated topics;

if the top-most target group is a second type of feedback different from the first type of feedback, grouping the activated feedback in the children target groups for display to the user;

(f) logic that receives an activity description and a corresponding activity log, the activity description being descriptive of an improper operation of the apparatus associated with at least one user submission incurred during the presentation, the improper operation being detected by the user from the feedback, the corresponding activity log being indicative of the at least one user submission correlated to the improper operation and the feedback associated with the at least one user submission; and

(g) logic that performs regression analysis of the computer program as the presentation subsequently executes and that alters the set of profiles and topics to correct the feedback provided by the logic in (e) by adding an additional profile that triggers an additional topic to the user when the additional profile is activated, the additional profile including a set of conditions met by work submitted by the user, wherein the regression analysis utilizes the activity description and the corresponding activity log to recreate the improper operation and wherein the altered set of profiles and topics that are based on a developer input addresses a specific combination of mistakes performed by the user as monitored in (e).

11. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that instantiates a particular feedback model based on the regression analysis.

12. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that receives and analyzes user responses using an expert system to determine details of the computer program to store.

13. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that store user interactions with the presentation as the presentation executes.

14. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that plays back user interactions with the presentation.

15. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that prints a report based on the regression analysis.

16. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that organizes the regression analysis information in a company preferred manner to facilitate performance metrics for the company.

17. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that tailors feedback based on regression analysis as the presentation executes.

18. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 10, including logic that presents a tailored simulation based on the regression analysis as the presentation executes.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

(a) presenting information indicative of a goal, the goal being associated with a skill required for a user in a business endeavor;

(b) integrating information that motivates accomplishment of the goal;

(c) monitoring progress toward the goal and providing feedback that further motivates accomplishment of the goal, wherein;

the feedback is characterized by a set of profiles and topics;

the profiles trigger the topics in a concept tree to obtain a plurality of activated topics; and

the feedback is selected from the plurality of activated topics in the concept tree by;

identifying a top-most target group with an activated topic;

if the top-most target group is a first type of feedback, selecting that feedback for display to the user without examining any other activated topics;

if the top-most target group is a second type of feedback different from the first type of feedback, grouping the activated feedback in the children target groups for display to the user;

(d) receiving an activity description and a corresponding activity log, the activity description being descriptive of an improper operation of the computer-executable instructions associated with at least one user submission incurred during a presentation to the user, the improper operation being detected by the user from the feedback, the corresponding activity log being indicative of the at least one user submission correlated to the improper operation and the feedback associated with the at least one user submission;

(e) performing regression analysis of the computer-executable instructions as the presentation subsequently executes, wherein the regression analysis utilizes the activity description and the corresponding activity log to recreate the improper operation; and

(f) in response to (e), altering the set of profiles and topics based on a developer input to correct the feedback by adding an additional profile that triggers an additional topic to the user when the additional profile is activated, the additional profile including a set of conditions met by work submitted by the user, the altered set of profiles and topics addressing a specific combination of mistakes performed by the user as monitored in (c).

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 having computer-executable instructions to perform:

(g) initiating a processing of the notification from the user by an indicator being inserted in a feedback display.