Method and apparatus for periodically questioning a user using a computer system or other device to facilitate memorization and learning of information

• US 10,347,145 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Original Assignee: Vision Works IP Corp.
• Inventors: Braunberger, Alfred S., Braunberger, Beau M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yip, Jack
• Application Number:
  US12/467,119
• Time in Patent Office: 3,707 Days
• Field of Search: 434118, 434255, 434322, 434326, 434332, 434350, 715927
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/24 using interrupt G06F13/32 takes precedence
• 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 5/065 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/375 Commercial
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/65 for using the result on users' side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/927 Education or instruction

Abstract

Embodiments ensure that a user performs educational tasks, such as answering predetermined test questions, on a mobile phone or other wireless electronic device. When predetermined usage limits on the mobile phone are met, application programs on the mobile phone are suspended until the user performs an educational task. In some embodiments, once the usage criteria are met, the mobile phone is able to make calls to or receive calls from only predetermined numbers. Normal use is restored only after the educational task is performed. Usage limits include a maximum number of connections (e.g., calls made and received) on the mobile phone, a maximum cost of calls, and a maximum total duration of calls, all within an allotment period.

Claims

1. A wireless device configured to test a user on an educational task, comprising:

one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs having corresponding one or more first numerical priorities; and

a hardware module comprising a testing application program independent from the non-testing, non-educational application and having a corresponding second numerical priority, wherein the testing application program suspends the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs based on values of the one or more first numerical priorities and the second numerical priority when a suspension criterion is met, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a total cost incurred using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a first predetermined threshold, wherein relative values of the one or more first numerical priorities and the second numerical priority indicate that the testing application has a higher execution priority than the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs, and to resume the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs when the educational task is performed on the wireless device, wherein resuming the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs resumes at a point the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs were suspended or paused, wherein suspending the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs includes sending a suspend signal to all user applications running on the wireless device.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising a memory structure that associates the one or more numerical priorities with the corresponding one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion comprises an elapse of a predetermined period of time.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion comprises an elapse of a random period of time.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the suspension criterion further comprises a total duration of connections using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a second predetermined threshold, a total number of connections using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a third predetermined threshold, or any combination thereof.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a mobile phone application program.

7. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is configured to block calls to one or more predetermined telephone numbers when the suspension criterion is met.

8. The wireless device of claim 6, wherein the wireless device is configured to connect calls only to one or more predetermined telephone numbers when the suspension criterion is met.

9. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs comprise at least two application programs.

10. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising an interface for changing values of the one or more numerical priorities.

11. A method of ensuring that a user performs an educational task on a wireless device comprising:

executing one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs on the wireless device, wherein each of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs has a corresponding first numerical priority;

suspending each of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs by a testing application independent from the non-testing, non-educational application and program having a second numerical priority based on values of the first numerical priorities and the second numerical priority when a suspension criterion is met, wherein relative values of the first numerical priorities and second numerical priority indicate that the testing application has a higher execution priority than the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs, wherein the suspension criterion is set in a parameter saved in a configuration file that the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs read when the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs are first loaded, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a total cost incurred using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and

resuming the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs when the educational task is performed on the wireless device, wherein resuming the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs resumes at a point the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs were suspended or paused, wherein suspending the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs includes sending a suspend signal to all user applications running on the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a predetermined time interval has elapsed, a threshold cost has been accrued using the wireless device over a predetermined time period, a threshold duration of connections has been accrued using the wireless device over a predetermined time period, a threshold number of connections have been made using the wireless device over a predetermined time period, or any combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising connecting a telephone call between the wireless device and a remote device when the suspension criterion is met.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the telephone call is connected only to one or more preselected telephone numbers.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising blocking a telephone call between the wireless device and a remote device when the remote device is associated with a preselected telephone number.

16. A method of ensuring that a user performs an educational task on a wireless device comprising:

executing one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs on the wireless device, wherein each of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs has a corresponding first numerical priority;

executing a testing application program independent from the non-testing, non-educational application and on the wireless device, wherein the testing application program has a second numerical priority;

comparing a value of each of the first numerical priorities to a value of the second numerical priority to determine selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs that have a lower executing priority than the testing application program;

suspending, by a suspension program, execution of the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs based on a suspension criterion until an educational task is performed on the wireless device, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a total cost incurred using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a first predetermined threshold; and

resuming the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs, wherein resuming the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs resumes at a point the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs were suspended or paused, wherein suspending the selected ones of the one or more non-testing, non-educational application programs includes sending a suspend signal to the one or more non-testing, non educational application programs running on the wireless device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the suspension criterion comprises an elapse of a predetermined period of time.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the suspension criterion comprises an elapse of a random period of time.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the suspension criterion comprises a total duration of connections using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a second predetermined threshold, a total number of connections using the wireless device over a predetermined period of time exceeds a third predetermined threshold, or any combination thereof.