System and method for wireless communication in an educational setting
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of student wireless communication devices, each having;
a display;
a user-operable input device;
a network transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless communication network using frequencies licensed for wide-area networks;
a short-range non-network transceiver;
a controller configured to control operation of the non-network transceiver of the first wireless communication device; and
an instructor wireless communication device having at least the short-range non-network transceiver and the controller configured to control operation of the non-network transceiver of the instructor wireless communication device;
a wireless access point (AP) configured to transmit the beacon signal wherein the short-range non-network transceiver in each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices is configured to communicate with the instructor wireless communication device via the AP whereby the short-range communication link between the respective short-range non-network transceivers and the instructor wireless communication device is established via the AP;
wherein the controller in each of the student wireless communication devices is configured to automatically detect the transmitted beacon signal and to establish a short-range communication link between the respective short-range non-network transceivers and the instructor wireless communication device via the AP and to exchange data, including student response data, with the instructor wireless communication device, and upon establishing the short-range communication link, automatically performing an authentication process for each student wireless communication device, and temporarily disabling the respective network transceivers upon authentication during a period of time in which the short-range communication link is established; and
wherein the controller in the instructor wireless communication device is configured to receive data from any responding ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the AP.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network includes an instructor wireless communication device and a plurality of student wireless communication devices, which may be conventional smartphones. The student devices do not communicate with the wireless service provider, but communicate with the instructor device in the classroom via a short-range communication network established between the student devices and the instructor device directly or via an access point. In one embodiment, communication with the cellphone network service provider is cut off by disabling the network transceiver in each student device. The instructor device can exchange question and answer data with the student devices. The system can be configured to provide security in student responses to prevent potential cheating. Student answers may be automatically collected, collated, and graded. The answers are accompanied by an ID that uniquely identifies each student. The system may further provide for automatic classroom attendance and participation by logging nonresponsive student devices.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of student wireless communication devices, each having; a display; a user-operable input device; a network transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless communication network using frequencies licensed for wide-area networks; a short-range non-network transceiver; a controller configured to control operation of the non-network transceiver of the first wireless communication device; and an instructor wireless communication device having at least the short-range non-network transceiver and the controller configured to control operation of the non-network transceiver of the instructor wireless communication device; a wireless access point (AP) configured to transmit the beacon signal wherein the short-range non-network transceiver in each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices is configured to communicate with the instructor wireless communication device via the AP whereby the short-range communication link between the respective short-range non-network transceivers and the instructor wireless communication device is established via the AP; wherein the controller in each of the student wireless communication devices is configured to automatically detect the transmitted beacon signal and to establish a short-range communication link between the respective short-range non-network transceivers and the instructor wireless communication device via the AP and to exchange data, including student response data, with the instructor wireless communication device, and upon establishing the short-range communication link, automatically performing an authentication process for each student wireless communication device, and temporarily disabling the respective network transceivers upon authentication during a period of time in which the short-range communication link is established; and wherein the controller in the instructor wireless communication device is configured to receive data from any responding ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the AP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for use with a plurality of student wireless communication devices, each having a network transceiver to establish a network communication link between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and a wireless communication network utilizing a wireless network infrastructure, the method comprising:
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transmitting a beacon signal from a wireless access point; each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices using a short-range non-network transceiver within the respective plurality of student wireless communication devices to detect the transmitted beacon signal; using a beacon signal to establish a short-range communication link with an instructor wireless communication device via the wireless access point without utilizing the wireless network infrastructure; performing an authentication process for each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices upon establishing the short-range communication link between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and the instructor wireless communication device to thereby authenticate each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices; upon authentication, disabling the respective network transceivers during a period of time in which the short-range communication link is established between the respective ones of the plurality of student wireless communication devices and the instructor wireless communication device; transmitting data, including query data requiring a response, from the instructor wireless communication device to each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the wireless access point; at least a portion of the plurality of student wireless communication devices generating a response message, including a query response; and receiving data, including the query response, transmitted from each of the portion of the plurality of student wireless communication devices generating a response message to the instructor wireless communication device via the wireless access point; wherein the short-range communication link is established between the instructor wireless communication device and each of the plurality of student wireless communication devices via the wireless access point and without utilizing the wireless network infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification