Study aid apparatus and method of using study aid apparatus

• US 20040206809A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chapman, Kelly, Fishbach, Matthew P., Earp, Ann F., Hartzell, Andrew B., Wood, Michael C., McClintock, Christa
• Application Number:
  US10/843,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206809A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

A method of using a study aid apparatus is disclosed. The method includes receiving supplemental information associated with a printed textbook. After receiving the supplemental information, it can be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus. The study aid apparatus is then used to help learn about subject matter in the textbook.

Claims

1. A method of using a study aid apparatus, the method comprising:

a) receiving supplemental information associated with a printed textbook;

b) loading the supplemental information into a portable, study aid apparatus; and

c) using the portable, study aid apparatus to help learn about subject matter in the textbook.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the supplemental information includes multiple choice questions.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable, study aid apparatus includes

a) a housing,

b) a processor in the housing,

c) an audio device for providing the supplemental information to the user, wherein the audio device is coupled to the processor,

d) a display device for displaying the supplemental information to the user, wherein the display device is coupled to the processor,

e) a memory for storing the supplemental information and being coupled to the processor, and

f) a keyboard coupled to the processor.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

viewing a question and listening to the question substantially simultaneously.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein a) receiving the supplemental information includes downloading the supplemental information from a server computer to a client computer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a) receiving the supplemental information includes downloading the supplemental information from a server computer to a client computer, and wherein the method further comprises:

transferring the supplemental information from the client computer to a linker device;

transferring the supplemental information from the linker device onto a transferable information storage medium; and

inserting the transferable information storage medium into the portable, study aid apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the printed textbook is a math textbook, a science textbook, a language arts textbook, a social studies textbook, or a foreign language textbook.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

10. A portable, study aid apparatus for use in a system including the portable, study aid apparatus and a printed textbook, the portable, study aid apparatus comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a processor in the housing;

c) an audio device for providing supplemental information associated with the printed textbook to the user in audio form, wherein the audio device is coupled to the processor;

d) a memory for storing the supplemental information and being coupled to the processor; and

e) an input device coupled to the processor.

11. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

f) a display device coupled to the processor, and a speech synthesizer coupled to the processor.

12. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 wherein the input device comprises a keyboard, and wherein the supplemental information is downloaded from a server computer via the Internet.

13. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 further comprising:

f) a display device coupled to the processor, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device.

14. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 wherein the audio device comprises a speaker.

15. The portable, study aid apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a transferable information storage medium and a slot for the transferable information storage medium.

17. The portable, study aid apparatus of any of claim 10 wherein the supplemental information comprises chapter-specific questions for the printed textbook.

18. A kit comprising:

the study aid apparatus of claim 10;

and

a transferable information storage medium including supplemental information for the textbook.

16. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled).

22. A method for providing supplemental information for a printed textbook to a user, the method comprising:

a) receiving supplemental information for a plurality of printed textbooks;

b) storing the supplemental information for the plurality of textbooks in a database; and

c) sending the supplemental information to a user via the Internet, wherein the supplemental information is to be loaded into a portable, study aid apparatus that is to be used with the printed textbook.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein sending the supplemental information associated with one or more of the textbooks in the plurality of textbooks to a user includes

sending the supplemental information associated with the one or more textbooks in the plurality of textbooks from a server computer to a client computer via the Internet.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the supplemental information includes chapter-specific questions.