Method and system for providing content for learning appliances over an electronic communication medium

• US 9,640,083 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wood, Michael C., Regan, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Gishnock, Nikolai A
• Application Number:
  US10/374,736
• Time in Patent Office: 5,181 Days
• Field of Search: 434118, 434350, 446175, 446301, 463 42, 463 43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/69 by enabling or updating specific game elements, e.g. unlocking hidden features, items, levels or versions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/003 electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 17/006 with audible presentation of the material to be studied audio and audio-visual teaching apparatus in general G09B5/04, G09B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/025 with electrically operated apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 27/08 : Globes celestial globes G09B27/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 : using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 : Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 : with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 : with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/062 : Combinations of audio and printed presentations, e.g. magnetically striped cards, talking books, magnetic tapes with printed texts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 : Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• 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: G09B 7/02 : of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• 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

Abstract

A method for providing electronic content for a learning appliance is disclosed. The method includes selecting a learning appliance from a set of different learning appliances on a host site. The set of learning appliances is previously selected from a group of learning appliances. The electronic content package is received and is loaded into the learning appliance.

Claims

1. A method for using a client computer to download a content package to a learning appliance toy, the method comprising:

(a) selecting the learning appliance toy and the content package, by a user, from a set of different learning appliance toys with one or more content packages provided for each learning appliance toy, using a user interface on a host site displayed on the client computer, wherein the set of learning appliance toys is previously selected by the user from a group of learning appliance toys, wherein images of the set of different learning appliance toys or names for the learning appliance toys in the set on the host site are displayed on the client computer;

(b) receiving an electronic content package on the client computer for the learning appliance toy through an electronic communication medium in response to (a); and

(c) loading the electronic content package from the client computer into the learning appliance toy using the user interface,

wherein the learning appliance toys in the set of learning appliance toys are owned by the user or a family; and

wherein the electronic content package includes educational content based on the user'"'"'s personal profile information and forms part of a pre-determined educational curriculum, and wherein the method further comprises;

selecting the curriculum, by the user, on the client computer, prior to (a),

wherein the learning appliance toy includes one or more movable rings or movable buttons that is used to operate the learning appliance toy.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) before (a), purchasing the learning appliance toy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein all of the learning appliance toys in the set are portable.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein (b) receiving comprises receiving the content package through the Internet, and wherein the host site is a Web site.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the content package further comprises:

reviewing a plurality of electronic content packages displayed on the client computer associated with the selected learning appliance toy; and

selecting the electronic content package from the plurality of content packages.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) transferring the electronic content package from the client computer to a linker device; and

(f) transferring the electronic content package from the linker device to a non-transitory information storage medium, wherein the non-transitory information storage medium is insertable into a housing of the learning appliance toy.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein loading the electronic content package further comprises loading a plurality of electronic content packages from the client computer into the learning appliance toy, wherein the plurality of electronic content packages form a curriculum.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein loading the electronic content package further comprises loading the plurality of electronic content packages into a plurality of learning appliance toys, wherein the electronic content packages form a curriculum when used in the plurality of learning appliance toys.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein loading the electronic content package further comprises loading the electronic content package from the client computer into a plurality of learning appliance toys, wherein the electronic content package forms a curriculum when used in the plurality of learning appliance toys.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein (a) selecting the learning appliance toy and content package, by the user, from the set of different learning appliance toys with one or more content packages provided for each learning appliance toy, using the user interface on the host site displayed on the client computer, comprises selecting a button for downloading the content package to the client computer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the different learning appliance toys all teach math.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the learning appliance toy and the content package comprises selecting a button for downloading the content package for the learning appliance toy to select both the content package and the learning appliance toy in a single step.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the content package comprises current factual information including at least one of current populations of countries, and current facts about countries.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the content package forms a predetermined curriculum.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the content package is a game.

16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program embodied therein, the computer program adapted to be executed to cause a server to implement a method comprising:

(a) providing a set of different learning appliance toys on a host site, the set of learning appliance toys being previously selected from a group of different learning appliance toys, wherein images of the set of different learning appliance toys or names for the learning appliance toys in the set on the host site are displayed on a client computer;

(b) presenting to a user, through the host site displayed on the client computer, the set of learning appliance toys along with different content packages for each of the learning appliance toys in the set of learning appliance toys;

(c) receiving a selection of a learning appliance toy and a content package from the set of learning appliance toys and different content packages for each of the learning appliance toys in the set of learning appliance toys; and

(d) sending an electronic content package for the learning appliance toy to the client computer via an electronic communication medium in response to (c),

wherein the user or the user'"'"'s family owns the set of learning appliance toys; and

wherein the electronic content package includes educational content based on the user'"'"'s personal profile information and forms part of a pre-determined educational curriculum, and wherein the method further comprises

receiving a selection, from the user, of the curriculum prior to (c),

wherein the learning appliance toy includes one or more movable rings or movable buttons that is used to operate the learning appliance toy.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:

(e) receiving the selection of the set of learning appliance toys from the group of learning appliance toys from the client computer.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising, before (a):

(e) storing the selected set of learning appliance toys in a personal profile database.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising, after (a), entering an identifier for the user, and then performing (b) automatically after entering the identifier.

20. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises receiving an identifier for the user, and then automatically performing (a) after the identifier is received.

21. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the different learning appliance toys all teach math.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the method further comprises:

(e) receiving the selection of the set of learning appliance toys from the group of learning appliance toys from the client computer.

23. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising, before (a):

(e) storing the selected set of learning appliance toys in a personal profile database.

24. A method comprising:

(a) providing a set of different learning appliance toys on a host site, the set of learning appliance toys being previously selected from a group of different learning appliance toys, wherein images of the set of different learning appliance toys or names for the learning appliance toys in the set on the host site are displayed on a client computer;

(b) presenting to a user, through the host site displayed on the client computer, the set of learning appliance toys along with different content packages for each of the learning appliance toys in the set of learning appliance toys;

(c) receiving a selection of a learning appliance toy and a content package from the set of learning appliance toys and different content packages for each of the learning appliance toys in the set of learning appliance toys; and

(d) sending an electronic content package for the learning appliance toy to the client computer via an electronic communication medium in response to (c),

wherein the user or the user'"'"'s family owns the set of learning appliance toys; and

wherein the electronic content package includes educational content based on the user'"'"'s personal profile information and forms part of a pre-determined educational curriculum, and wherein the method further comprises

receiving a selection, from the user, of the curriculum prior to (c),

wherein the learning appliance toy includes one or more movable rings or movable buttons that is used to operate the learning appliance toy.