Runtime program regression analysis tool for a simulation engine

• US 7,818,275 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): Sparks; Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUSS, BENJAMIN J
• Application Number:
  US12/197,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20090012761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/322, 434/323, 434/350, 706 45- 48, 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: G06N 5/042 Backward inferencing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

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. 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:

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

integrating information that motivates accomplishment of the goal;

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; and

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 and assembling it into a feedback paragraph for display to the user; and

performing regression analysis of the computer-executable instructions as the presentation subsequently executes.

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

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

a memory that stores information under the control of the processor;

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

logic that integrates information that motivates accomplishment of the goal;

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; and

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 and assembling it into a feedback paragraph for display to the user; and

logic that performs regression analysis of the computer program as the presentation subsequently executes.

10. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that instantiates a particular feedback model based on the regression analysis.

11. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that receives and analyzes user responses using an expert system to determine details of the computer program to store.

12. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that store user interactions with the presentation as the presentation executes.

13. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that plays back user interactions with the presentation.

14. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that prints a report based on the regression analysis.

15. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that organizes the regression analysis information in a company preferred manner to facilitate performance metrics for the company.

16. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that tailors feedback based on regression analysis as the presentation executes.

17. An apparatus that creates a presentation as recited in claim 9, including logic that presents a tailored simulation based on the regression analysis as the presentation executes.

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

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

integrating information that motivates accomplishment of the goal;

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; and

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 and assembling it into a feedback paragraph for display to the user; and

performing regression analysis of the computer-executable instructions as the presentation subsequently executes.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 having computer-executable instructions to perform:

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