Testing within digital media items

• US 8,442,423 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gayles, Edward J., Nguyen, Laurent An Minh, Grner, Martin, Weiss, Steven K., Ryan, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gishnock, Nikolai A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRENWELGE, RANDALL NEAL
• Application Number:
  US12/360,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 434/350, 434/30, 434/362, 434/322, 434/323, 709/225, 709/203, 709/218, 709/217, 709/204, 343/204, 343/350, 455/556.2, 455/414.2, 707/104.1, 707/3, 707/5, 704/258, 706/62
• US Class Current: 434/362
• 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 digital media item, such as an electronic book (eBook), may include testing content. The testing content may include questions about the content of the digital media item. When is user is viewing the digital media item on an electronic device, such as an eBook reader, the user may be allowed to select whether the testing content is displayed. The user may also be allowed to select a particular mode of testing, such as automatic testing, selective testing, etc. If the user chooses to display the testing content, the user may also be allowed to provide answers to the testing questions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic book (eBook) reader device comprising one or more processors and one or more storage media that include instructions that are executable by the one or more processors, a notification message to commence voice mode interaction;

in response to receiving the notification message and without commencing the voice mode interaction, automatically initiating, from a server, download of an instruction-bearing update associated with a digital media item, the download initiated by the one or more processors;

updating the digital media item based on the instruction-bearing update, the updating comprising integrating testing content with the digital media item;

displaying an indication that testing content is available for the digital media item, wherein the testing content comprises testing questions about the content of the digital media item;

receiving, by the one or more processors, user input requesting that the testing content be displayed;

prompting, by the one or more processors, a user to select a testing mode from among multiple testing modes, the multiple testing modes comprising an automatic testing mode and a selective testing mode;

when the user selects the automatic testing mode, automatically displaying the testing content after the user has reached designated points in the digital media item;

receiving user input providing answers to the testing questions;

after the testing content has been completed, sending the completed testing content to the server; and

displaying correct answers to the testing questions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media item is an electronic book.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing content is displayed in response to a user activating a link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing content is displayed in a popup window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein content of the digital media item is displayed in a first display window, and wherein the testing content is displayed in a second display window that is different than the first display window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing content is displayed interwoven with the display of the digital media item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing content appears as a testing content section.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying answers to the testing questions.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a source of answers to the testing questions.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing content further comprises testing answers.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

non-transitory memory coupled with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

in response to receiving a notification message and without commencing voice mode interaction, initiate download from a server of an instruction-bearing update associated with a digital media item that is stored in the non-transitory memory;

updating the digital media item based on the instruction-bearing update, the updating comprising integrating testing content with the digital media item, the testing content comprising testing questions about the content of the digital media item;

receive user input indicating whether the testing content should be displayed;

in response to receiving the user input indicating that the testing content should be displayed, automatically display the testing content after the user has reached designated points in the digital media item; and

after the testing content has been completed, sending the completed testing content to the server for analysis

assign a grade to the completed testing content based on the analysis.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the digital media item is an electronic book.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the testing content is displayed in response to a user activating a link.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the testing content is displayed in a pop-up window.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein content of the digital media item is displayed in a first display window, and wherein the testing content is displayed in a second display window that is different than the first display window.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the testing content is displayed interwoven with the display of the digital media item.

17. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the testing content appears as a testing content section.

18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable to display answers to the testing questions.

19. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the instructions are executable to display a source of answers to the testing questions.

20. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the testing content includes correct answers to the testing content.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions for:

initiating download, from a server, of an instruction-bearing update associated with a digital media item based at least in part on receiving a notification message without commencing a voice mode interaction;

updating the digital media item to include testing content based on the instruction-bearing update;

displaying content of the digital media item for which testing content is available, wherein the testing content comprises testing questions about the content of the digital media item;

receiving user input selecting a testing mode for displaying the testing content;

displaying the testing content in the selected testing mode;

receiving user input providing answers to the testing questions;

after receiving the user input to the testing questions for at least one of a page, a chapter, or a section of the digital media item, displaying one or more of correct answers to the testing questions or references that enable the user to view portions of the digital media item that include the correct answers;

after the testing content has been completed, sending the completed testing content to the server for analysis; and

receiving, from the server, the analysis associated with the testing content.

22. An electronic device including a processor configured with executable instructions to perform acts comprising:

in response to receiving a notification message to commence voice mode interaction, initiating download, from a server, of an instruction-bearing update associated with a digital media item without commencing the voice mode interaction;

updating the digital media item to include testing content based on the instruction-bearing update;

receiving user input indicating whether the testing content should be displayed;

displaying content of the digital media item for which testing content is available, wherein the testing content comprises testing questions about the content of the digital media item;

automatically displaying the testing content after the user has reached designated points in the digital media item if the user input indicates that the testing content should be displayed;

after the testing content has been completed, sending the completed testing content to the server to perform an analysis of the user input; and

assigning an alphabetical or numerical grade to the completed testing content in response to receiving the analysis from the server.