Method and apparatus for periodically questioning a user using a computer system or other device to facilitate memorization and learning of information
First Claim
1. A method of suspending a primary application so that a user must perform an educational task, the method comprising:
- a. suspending a first primary application program at a first execution point on an electronic device based on suspension criteria using a suspension program separate from the primary application program;
b. presenting on the electronic device an educational task from a set of educational tasks, wherein the educational task is presented by a second application;
c. receiving a user-generated response on an input device;
d. repeating steps b and c until a resumption criterion is met; and
e. resuming the first primary application from the first execution point.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for ensuring that a user on a host system periodically performs educational tasks is disclosed. The system comprises a host system on which an educational application and a primary application can execute; means for suspending the primary application when a suspension criterion is met; means for executing an interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and means for resuming the primary application on the host system when the resumption criterion is met. The method comprises (a) suspending a primary application based on a suspension criterion; (b) presenting on a presentation device an educational task from a set of educational tasks; (c) receiving a user-generated response on an input device; (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a resumption criterion is met; and (e) resuming the primary application when the resumption criterion is met.
263 Citations
98 Claims
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1. A method of suspending a primary application so that a user must perform an educational task, the method comprising:
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a. suspending a first primary application program at a first execution point on an electronic device based on suspension criteria using a suspension program separate from the primary application program; b. presenting on the electronic device an educational task from a set of educational tasks, wherein the educational task is presented by a second application; c. receiving a user-generated response on an input device; d. repeating steps b and c until a resumption criterion is met; and e. resuming the first primary application from the first execution point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of suspending a user application to test a user'"'"'s knowledge with an educational task, the method comprising:
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a. running a primary application program on an electronic device; b. suspending operation of the primary application program triggered external to the primary application program based on suspension criteria; c. running a secondary application program on the electronic device until a resumption criterion is met, wherein the secondary application program presents multiple subject areas each corresponding to an educational task; d. presenting to a user an educational task from a subject area selected by a user, the subject area from the multiple subject areas; and e. resuming operation of the primary application program. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A teaching device for execution on a host system, the host system executing a first primary application and an interactive application, the teaching device comprising:
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a. means for suspending operation of the first primary application program on the host system, wherein the means for suspending is configured to suspend multiple pre-defined application programs; b. means for executing the interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and c. means for resuming operation of the first primary application on the host system when the resumption criterion is met. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A teaching device for execution on a host system, the teaching device comprising a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for controlling operation of the host system, the computer-readable medium comprising:
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a. a suspension module programmed to suspend operation of an initial application on the host system by transmitting a suspend signal configured to suspend the initial application and at least one other application; b. an execution module programmed to execute an interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and c. a resumption module programmed to resume the initial application from the execution point on the host system when the resumption criterion is met. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A method of suspending a primary application so that a user must perform an educational task, the method comprising:
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a. suspending a first primary application at a first execution point on an electronic device based on suspension criteria; b. presenting on the electronic device an educational task from a set of educational tasks; c. receiving a user-generated response on an input device; d. repeating steps b and c until a resumption criterion is met; e. resuming the first primary application from the first execution point; f. suspending a second application program at a second execution point based on the suspension criterion; and g. resuming the second application program from the second execution point when the resumption criterion is met, wherein the first application program and the second application program are concurrently maintained in a suspended state.
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94. A teaching device for execution on a host system, the host system executing a first primary application and an interactive application, the teaching device comprising:
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a. means for suspending the first primary application at a first execution point on the host system based on a suspension criterion of the first primary application; b. means for executing the interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; c. means for resuming the first primary application from the first execution point on the host system when the resumption criterion is met, wherein the means for suspending the first primary application is further configured to suspend a second primary application at a second execution point, the means for resuming the first primary application is further configured to resume the second primary application from the second execution point when the resumption criterion is met, and the means for suspending the first primary application is configured to concurrently maintain the first primary application and the second primary application in a suspended state.
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95. A method of suspending a primary application so that a user must perform an educational task, the method comprising:
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a. suspending a primary application executing on an electronic device using a control program configured to concurrently maintain a plurality of primary application programs in suspended states, wherein the control program masks interrupt signals to prevent interrupting the control program; b. presenting on a presentation device an educational task from a set of educational tasks; c. receiving a user-generated response on an input device; d. repeating steps b and c until a resumption criterion is met; and e. resuming the primary application.
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96. A teaching device for execution on a host system, the teaching device comprising a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for controlling operation of the host system, the computer-readable medium comprising:
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a. a suspension module for suspending a plurality of initial application programs at corresponding execution points on the host system, the suspension module further configured to concurrently maintain the plurality of initial application programs in a suspended state; b. an execution module for executing an interactive educational application on the host system until a resumption criterion is met; and c. a resumption module for resuming the plurality of initial application programs at their corresponding execution points on the host system when the resumption criterion is met.
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97. A method of suspending a program so that a user must perform an educational task, the method comprising:
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a. executing a first program on an electronic device; b. executing a second program on the electronic device; c. suspending operation of the second program by the first program in response to receiving a suspend signal transmitted to multiple application programs using a suspension criterion until an educational task presented by the first program is completed; and d. resuming operation of the second program.
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98. A method of suspending a plurality of primary application programs so that a user must perform an educational task, the method comprising:
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a. suspending operations of the plurality of primary application programs on an electronic device by transmitting a suspend signal to the plurality of primary application programs; b. presenting on the electronic device an educational task from a set of educational tasks; c. receiving a user-generated response on an input device; d. repeating steps b and c until a resumption criterion is met; and e. resuming operations of the one or more of the plurality of the primary application programs.
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Specification