Role based modular remittances in a modular learning system

• US 9,805,424 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monk Akarshala Inc.
• Original Assignee: Monk Akarshala Design Private Limited, Monk Akarshala Inc.
• Inventors: Kapoor, Samridh
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US14/344,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20140344126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/08 providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations
• 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

An apparatus and method are disclosed for managing modular remittances in a modular learning system. Learning applications are stored in the modular learning system, each associated with a service charge and a remitted user. The remitted user is also associated with a remittance cycle. The modular learning system receives a purchase request from a learning user specifying a learning application, and subtracts a service charge associated with the specified learning application from an account balance of the learning user to compute an updated balance. Based on the remittance cycle of the remitted user associated with the specified learning application, the modular learning system determines a time to remit the service charge to the remitted user. The modular learning system remits the service charge at the determined time, and displays the updated balance to the learning user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing modular remittances through an electronic remittance module provided in a learning system comprising:

maintaining an electronic learning user database including a plurality of learning users, the electronic learning user database being accessible over an Internet-based computer network, each learning user associated with an account balance;

maintaining an electronic remitted user database including a plurality of remitted users, each remitted user associated with a remittance cycle, wherein the remitted users include any three or more of a tutoring user, a learning application authoring user, a learning facility administrating user, a microlearning event organizing user, a learning application translating user, a learning application template developing user, a learning tool supplying user, and a learning user of the plurality of learning users;

maintaining an electronic modular learning system including a plurality of processor-implemented modules, the processor-implemented modules including an electronic microlearning purchase management module and an electronic role based remittance module, the learning system operating in a learning environment and communicating with the learning users in the learning environment over the Internet-based computer network, the learning system enabling the plurality of learning users to communicate with one another in the learning environment, the learning system including an electronic learning content module database including a plurality of electronic learning learning content modules, each electronic learning content module associated with metadata describing a service charge and the remitted user in the plurality of remitted users;

wherein the metadata of the electronic learning content module comprises at least one of an electronics textbook, an electronic journal, an instructional video, an instructional animation, a distinct mobile application, a browser based web application, a desktop application, an executable file, a program, add in, macro, plugin or instructions associated with a plurality of application programming interfaces of the modular learning system;

receiving, from each of a plurality of user computing devices operated by respective ones of the learning users in the plurality of learning users over the Internet-based computer network, by the role based remittance module a respective purchase request specifying the corresponding electronic learning content module in the plurality of electronic learning content modules;

calculating, by an electronic payment remittance module for each of the respective ones of the learning users, an updated account balance by subtracting the service charge described by the metadata associated with the corresponding electronic learning content module from the corresponding account balance associated with the respective ones of the learning users;

granting access to the corresponding electronic learning content module on the learning user computing device operated by the respective one of the learning user based on the metadata of the electronic learning content module;

determining, by the role based remittance module, a time to remit each of the service charges associated with the respective ones of the electronic learning content modules based on the remittance cycle associated with the remitted user associated with the specified electronic learning application of the plurality of electronic learning applications;

generating, by an electronic remittance summary interface generator of the role based remittance module, a first summary cell electronic interface for a tutoring user of the remitted users, the first summary cell electronic interface including a tutor access remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the tutoring user, corresponding units of time of tutoring services provided by the tutoring user to one or more of the learning users, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of time;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the first summary cell interface on an electronic computing device of the tutoring user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request over the Internet-based computer network from a first of the learning users to purchase at least one of the tutoring services from the tutoring user, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased tutoring service from an account balance of the first of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the first learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary interface for the first learning user to cause the updated account balance of the first learning user to be displayed to the first learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the corresponding user computing device of the learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, a second summary cell electronic interface for a learning content module authoring user, the second summary cell electronic interface including a learning content module remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the learning content module authoring user, corresponding units of copies of software applications authored by the learning content module authoring user, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of copies;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the second summary cell electronic interface on an electronic computing device of the learning content module authoring user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a second of the learning users to purchase one of the electronic learning content modules authored by the learning content module authoring user, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased learning content module from an account balance of the second of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the second learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the second learning user to cause the updated account balance of the second learning user to be displayed to the second learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the corresponding user computing device of the second learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, a third summary cell electronic interface for a learning facility administrator user, the third summary cell electronic interface including a learning facility administrator remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the learning facility administrator user, corresponding units of time of a rental of a tangible item administered by the learning facility administrator user, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of time of the rental;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the third summary cell electronic interface on an electronic computing device of the learning facility administrator user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a third of the learning users to purchase a rental of the tangible item administered by the learning facility administrator user, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased rental from an account balance of the third of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the third learning user; and

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the third learning user to cause the updated account balance of the third learning user to be displayed to the third learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the user computing device of the third learning user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service charge associated with the specified learning content module includes a tax associated with a location of the learning user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aggregating, by the remittance module, a plurality of service charges associated with the plurality of electronic learning content modules associated with the remitted user; and

remitting the service charge at the determined time comprises remitting aggregated plurality of service charges wherein the remitted user is associated with the plurality of electronic learning content modules.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the purchase request can be received from the user belonging to a learning management system or a social or a professional network.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the purchase request can be generated by the user through the user computing device by accessing a mobile application or an internet-based web site/platform.

4. An apparatus for managing modular remittances through an electronic role based modular remittance module in a learning system, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors configured to execute instructions stored on one or more computer-readable storage medium or media;

the one or more processors being at least one of a microprocessor, a state machine, an application specific integrated circuit or a field programmable gate array;

one or more non-volatile memory devices comprising instructions for execution on the one or more processors, to perform the steps comprising;

maintaining an electronic learning user database including a plurality of learning users, the learning user database being accessible over an Internet-based computer network, each learning user associated with an account balance;

maintaining an electronic remitted user database including a plurality of remitted users, each remitted user associated with a remittance cycle, wherein the remitted users include any three or more of a tutoring user, a learning content module authoring user, a learning facility administrating user, a microlearning event organizing user, a learning content module translating user, a learning content module template developing user, a learning tool supplying user, and a learning user of the plurality of learning users;

maintaining an electronic modular learning system including a plurality of processor-implemented modules, the processor-implemented modules including an electronic microlearning purchase management module and an electronic role based remittance module, the modular learning system operating in a modular learning environment and communicating with the learning users in the learning environment over the Internet-based computer network, the modular learning system enabling the plurality of learning users to communicate with one another in the learning environment, the modular learning system including an electronic learning content module database including a plurality of electronic learning content modules, each electronic learning content module associated with metadata describing a service charge and the remitted user in the plurality of remitted users;

wherein the metadata of the electronic learning content module comprises at least one of an electronics textbook, an electronic journal, an instructional video, an instructional animation, a distinct mobile application, a browser based web application, a desktop application, an executable file, a program, add in, macro, plugin or instructions associated with a plurality of application programming interfaces of the learning system;

receiving, from each of a plurality of electronic user computing devices operated by respective ones of the learning users in the plurality of learning users over the Internet-based computer network, by the role based remittance module a respective purchase request specifying the corresponding electronic learning content module in the plurality of electronic learning content modules;

calculating, by an electronic payment remittance module for each of the respective ones of the learning users, an updated account balance by subtracting the service charge described by the metadata associated with the corresponding electronic learning content module from the corresponding account balance associated with the respective ones of the learning users;

granting access to the corresponding electronic learning content module on the learning user computing device operated by the respective one of the learning user based on the metadata of the electronic learning content module;

determining, by the role based remittance module, a time to remit each of the service charges associated with the respective ones of the electronic learning content modules based on the remittance cycle associated with the remitted user associated with the specified learning content module of the plurality of electronic learning content modules;

generating, by an electronic remittance summary interface generator of the role based remittance module, a first summary cell electronic interface for a tutoring user of the remitted users, the first summary cell electronic interface including a tutor access remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the tutoring user, corresponding units of time of tutoring services provided by the tutoring user to one or more of the learning users, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of time;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the first summary cell interface on an electronic computing device of the tutoring user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a first of the learning users to purchase at least one of the tutoring services from the tutoring user, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased tutoring service from an account balance of the first of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the first learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the first learning user to cause the updated account balance of the first learning user to be displayed to the first learning user through an interface displayed on the corresponding electronic user computing device of the learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, a second summary cell electronic interface for a learning content module authoring user, the second summary cell interface including a learning content module remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the learning content module authoring user, corresponding units of copies of applications authored by the learning content module authoring user, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of copies;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the second summary cell interface on an electronic computing device of the learning content module authoring user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving over the Internet-based computer network a purchase request from a second of the learning users to purchase one of the electronic learning content modules authored by the learning content module authoring user, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased electronic learning content module from an account balance of the second of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the second learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the second learning user to cause the updated account balance of the second learning user to be displayed to the second learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the corresponding electronic user computing device of the second learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, a third summary cell electronic interface for a learning facility administrator user, the third summary cell interface including a learning facility administrator remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the learning facility administrator user, corresponding units of time of a rental of a tangible item administered by the learning facility administrator user, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of time of the rental;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the third summary cell electronic interface on an electronic computing device of the learning facility administrator user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a third of the learning users to purchase a rental of the tangible item administered by the learning facility administrator user, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased rental from an account balance of the third of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the third learning user; and

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the third learning user to cause the updated account balance of the third learning user to be displayed to the third learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the electronic user computing device of the third learning user.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the service charge associated with the specified learning content module includes a tax associated with a location of the learning user.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

aggregating, by the remittance module, a plurality of service charges associated with the plurality of electronic learning content modules associated with the remitted user; and

remitting the service charge at the determined time comprises remitting aggregated plurality of service charges wherein the remitted user is associated with the plurality of electronic learning content modules.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer program instructions executable by one or more processors for performing a method for managing remittances in a learning system, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining an electronic learning user database including a plurality of learning users, the learning user database being accessible over an Internet-based computer network, each learning user associated with an account balance;

maintaining an electronic remitted user database including a plurality of remitted users, each remitted user associated with a remittance cycle, wherein the remitted users include any three or more of a tutoring user, a learning content module authoring user, a learning facility administrating user, a microlearning event organizing user, a learning content module translating user, a learning content module template developing user, a learning tool supplying user, and a learning user of the plurality of learning users;

maintaining a learning system including a plurality of processor-implemented modules, the processor-implemented modules including an electronic microlearning purchase management module and an electronic role based remittance module, the learning system operating in a learning environment and communicating with the learning users in the learning environment over the Internet-based computer network, the learning system enabling the plurality of learning users to communicate with one another in the learning environment, the learning system including an electronic learning content module database including a plurality of electronic learning content modules, each electronic learning content module associated with metadata describing a service charge and the remitted user in the plurality of remitted users;

wherein the metadata of the electronic learning content module comprises at least one of an electronics textbook, an electronic journal, an instructional video, an instructional animation, a distinct mobile application, a browser based web application, a desktop application, an executable file, a program, add in, macro, plugin or instructions associated with a plurality of application programming interfaces of the learning system;

receiving, from each of a plurality of electronic user computing devices operated by respective ones of the learning users in the plurality of learning users over the Internet-based computer network, by the role based remittance module a respective purchase request specifying the corresponding electronic learning content module in the plurality of electronic learning content modules;

calculating, by a payment remittance module for each of the respective ones of the learning users, an updated account balance by subtracting the service charge described by the metadata associated with the corresponding learning content module from the corresponding account balance associated with the respective ones of the learning users;

granting access to the corresponding electronic learning content module on the learning user computing device operated by the respective one of the learning user based on the metadata of the electronic learning content module;

determining, by the role based remittance module, a time to remit each of the service charges associated with the respective ones of the electronic learning content modules based on the remittance cycle associated with the remitted user associated with the specified learning content module of the plurality of electronic learning content modules;

generating, by an electronic remittance summary interface generator of the role based remittance module, a first summary cell electronic interface for a tutoring user of the remitted users, the first summary cell electronic interface including a tutor access remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the tutoring user, corresponding units of time of tutoring services provided by the tutoring user to one or more of the learning users, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of time;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the first summary cell electronic interface on an electronic computing device of the tutoring user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a first of the learning users to purchase at least one of the tutoring services from the tutoring user over the Internet-based computer network, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased tutoring service from an account balance of the first of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the first learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the first learning user to cause the updated account balance of the first learning user to be displayed to the first learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the corresponding electronic user computing device of the learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, a second summary cell electronic interface for a learning content module authoring user, the second summary cell electronic interface including a learning content module remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the learning content module authoring user, corresponding units of copies of applications authored by the learning content module authoring user, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of copies;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the second summary cell interface on an electronic computing device of the learning content module authoring user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a second of the learning users to purchase one of the electronic learning content modules authored by the learning content module authoring user over the Internet-based computer network, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased learning content module from an account balance of the second of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the second learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the second learning user to cause the updated account balance of the second learning user to be displayed to the second learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the corresponding electronic user computing device of the second learning user;

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, a third summary cell electronic interface for a learning facility administrator user, the third summary cell interface including a learning facility administrator remittance item representing an aggregate remittance amount for the remittance cycle associated with the learning facility administrator user, corresponding units of time of a rental of a tangible item administered by the learning facility administrator user, and an amount calculated based on the aggregate remittance amount and the units of time of the rental;

the remittance summary interface generator displaying the third summary cell electronic interface on an electronic computing device of the learning facility administrator user;

wherein receiving the purchase request includes receiving a purchase request from a third of the learning users to purchase a rental of the tangible item administered by the learning facility administrator user over the Internet-based computer network, and deducting at least an amount of the service charge associated with the purchased rental from an account balance of the third of the learning users, to produce an updated account balance for the third learning user; and

generating, by the remittance summary interface generator, an account summary electronic interface for the third learning user to cause the updated account balance of the third learning user to be displayed to the third learning user through an electronic interface displayed on the electronic user computing device of the third learning user.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the service charge associated with the specified learning content module includes a tax associated with a location of the learning user.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further comprising:

aggregating, by the remittance module, a plurality of service charges associated with the plurality of electronic learning content modules associated with the remitted user;

remitting the service charge at the determined time comprises remitting the aggregated plurality of service charges wherein the remitted user is associated with the plurality of electronic learning content modules.