Computing device providing electronic book data with configurable problems and changeable solution techniques and related methods

• US 9,965,969 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Batarseh, Issa, Haddad, Ghaith, Oreifej, Rashad, Al-Haddad, Rawad
• Primary Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US14/874,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20160027316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0291 for reading, e.g. e-books constructional details of portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/185 for building block systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/186 for digital electronics; for computers, e.g. microprocessors
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/073 all student stations being capable of presenting the same questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/077 different stations being capable of presenting different questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 Electronic book with display

Abstract

A computing device may include a display, a memory to store electronic textbook data comprising at least one configurable problem to be solved using a given solution technique from among a plurality of different solution techniques, a user input device, and a processor coupled to the display, the memory, and the user input device. The processor may be configured to display the electronic textbook data with the at least one configurable problem on the display, selectively change the given solution technique for the at least one configurable problem based upon the user input device, and display a solution for the at least one configurable problem on the display responsive to the change in the given solution technique.

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

a display;

a memory to store electronic textbook data comprising at least one configurable problem to be solved using a given solution technique from among a plurality of different solution techniques, the at least one configurable problem having a plurality of different difficulty levels associated therewith;

a user input pointing device; and

a processor coupled to said display, said memory, and said user input pointing device and configured to

display the electronic textbook data with the at least one configurable problem on said display,

determine a given difficulty level for solving the at least one configurable problem from among the plurality of different difficulty levels,

selectively change the given solution technique for the at least one configurable problem based upon actuation of the user input pointing device, and

display a solution for the at least one configurable problem on said display based upon the change in the given solution technique and the given difficulty level.

2. The computing device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a symbolic solution technique for the at least one configurable problem.

3. The computing device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a numerical solution technique for the at least one configurable problem.

4. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one configurable problem comprises at least one electronic circuit problem.

5. The computing device of claim 4 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a mesh analysis.

6. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one configurable problem comprises at least one scientific problem.

7. The computing device of claim 1 wherein the at least one configurable problem comprises at least one mathematical problem.

8. A method for using a computing device comprising a display, a memory, and a user input pointing device, the method comprising:

storing electronic textbook data comprising at least one configurable problem to be solved using a given solution technique from among a plurality of different solution techniques, the at least one configurable problem having a plurality of different difficulty levels associated therewith;

displaying the electronic textbook data with the at least one configurable problem on the display,

determining a given difficulty level for solving the at least one configurable problem from among the plurality of different difficulty levels,

selectively changing the given solution technique for the at least one configurable problem based upon actuation of the user input pointing device, and

displaying a solution for the at least one configurable problem on the display based upon the change in the given solution technique and the given difficulty level.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a symbolic solution technique for the at least one configurable problem.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a numerical solution technique for the at least one configurable problem.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one configurable problem comprises at least one electronic circuit problem.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a mesh analysis.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a computing device comprising a display, a memory, and a user input pointing device, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing the computing device to perform steps comprising:

storing electronic textbook data comprising at least one configurable problem to be solved using a given solution technique from among a plurality of different solution techniques, the at least one configurable problem having a plurality of different difficulty levels associated therewith;

displaying the electronic textbook data with the at least one configurable problem on the display,

determining a given difficulty level for solving the at least one configurable problem from among the plurality of different difficulty levels,

selectively changing the given solution technique for the at least one configurable problem based upon actuation of the user input pointing device, and

displaying a solution for the at least one configurable problem on the display based upon the change in the given solution technique and the given difficulty level.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a symbolic solution technique for the at least one configurable problem.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a numerical solution technique for the at least one configurable problem.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the at least one configurable problem comprises at least one electronic circuit problem.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of different solution techniques comprises a mesh analysis.