System and methods for searching for and delivering solutions to specific problems and problem types

• US 6,413,100 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Netucation LLC
• Original Assignee: Netucation LLC
• Inventors: Dickmeyer, Jon Steven, Brauer, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Chanda
• Application Number:
  US09/634,690
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/191, 434/201, 434/350, 434/351, 434/353, 434/322, 434/323, 434/298, 434/300, 434/302, 707/1, 707/4, 707/100, 707/102, 707/103.R, 707/103.Y, 707/103, 707/103.Z, 707/104.1, 345/700, 345/733
• US Class Current: 434/322
• 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: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing a solution to a given problem comprising the steps of receiving a request for a solution to a known problem, accessing a first set of data comprising a plurality of template solutions to problems, accessing a second set of data comprising a plurality of problem variable value sets, interfacing the first set of data and the second set of data for generating a solution to the problem, and transmitting the solution over a computer network.

Claims

1. A method of providing a solution to a problem comprising the steps of:

providing a subject object stored in computer readable memory, said subject object comprising a plurality of index codes and a plurality of subject topics in varying degrees of specificity, and wherein each subject topic is associated with an index code;

providing a second object stored in computer readable memory, said second object comprising a record of at least one identifying property of at least one textbook problem, said record comprising an index code from the subject object and a problem variable value set comprising at least one value element;

providing a template object stored in computer readable memory, said template object comprising a plurality of indexed template solutions to problems, wherein each of said plurality of template solutions comprises a variable element and is characterized by an index code from the subject object;

providing a first computer program capable of matching like index codes and replacing variable elements with value elements;

providing a second computer program capable of real-time math computation;

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem;

accessing, using a computer, a template solution comprising at least one variable element and a problem variable value set comprising at least one value element;

replacing, using the first computer program, said variable element with said value element to form an interim solution to the problem, said interim solution comprising a mathematical equation imbedded therein;

running, using the second computer program, a solution to the mathematical equation imbedded in the template solution to generate the solution to the problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution to the problem over a computer network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an indexed exposition object comprising a plurality of expositions, each of which is characterized by an index code from the subject object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface comprising at least one data input field for inputting data comprising an identifying property of a textbook.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a graphical user interface comprising at least one data input field for inputting data comprising an identifying property of a problem from a textbook.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second object further comprises at least one record of a textbook, said record comprising at least one identifying property.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one identifying proper is an ISBN number.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a textbook object stored in computer readable memory, said textbook object comprising at least one record of a textbook, said record comprising at least one identifying property of said textbook.

8. A method for providing a solution to a problem comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical user interface comprising at least one data input field for inputting data comprising an identifying property of a textbook;

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a first object, said record comprising a value element;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a template object, said template object comprising a plurality of records of template solutions to problems;

interfacing, using a computer, the record from the first object and the record from the template object for generating a solution to the problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a computer network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the value element is taken from a problem from a textbook.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the problem is a math problem.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the problem is a physics problem.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the problem is a chemistry problem.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the problem is a physical science problem.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the problem is a computer science problem.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the problem is an engineering problem.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the solution is animated.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the record from the template object comprises an animated template solution to a problem.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying property of a textbook is an ISBN number associated with said textbook.

19. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying property of a textbook is an author'"'"'s name.

20. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifying property of a textbook comprises an identifying property of a problem from a textbook.

21. The method of claim 8, wherein the solution to the problem comprises a mathematical equation imbedded therein, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing a math computation program, said math computation program capable of running the solution to the mathematical equation; and

running the solution to the mathematical equation.

22. The method of claim 8, wherein the first object is a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems.

23. The method of claim 8, wherein the first object is a textbook and problem object, comprising a plurality of records of textbooks, each textbook record being associated with a plurality of records of textbook problems.

24. A method for providing a solution to a math problem comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the math problem;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a first object, said record comprising a value element;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a template object, said template object comprising a plurality of records of template solutions to problems;

interfacing, using a computer, the record from the first object and the record from the template object for generating a solution to the math problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a computer network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the solution is animated.

26. The method of claim 24, herein the solution to the problem comprises a mathematical equation imbedded therein, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing a math computation program, said math computation program capable of running the solution to the mathematical equation; and

running the solution to the mathematical equation.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the first object is a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the first object is a textbook and problem object, comprising a plurality of records of textbooks, each textbook record being associated with a plurality of records of textbook problems.

29. A method for providing a solution to a physics problem comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the physics problem;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a first object, said record comprising a value element;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a template object, said template object comprising a plurality of records of template solutions to problems;

interfacing, using a computer, the record from the first object and the record from the template object for generating a solution to the physics problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a computer network.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the solution is animated.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the solution to the problem comprises a mathematical equation imbedded therein, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing a math computation program, said math computation program capable of running the solution to the mathematical equation; and

running the solution to the mathematical equation.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the first object is a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the first object is a textbook and problem object, comprising a plurality of records of textbooks, each textbook record being associated with a plurality of records of textbook problems.

34. A method for providing a solution to a chemistry problem comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the chemistry problem;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a first object, said record comprising a value element;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a template object, said template object comprising a plurality of records of template solutions to problems;

interfacing, using a computer, the record from the first object and the record from the template object for generating a solution to the chemistry problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a computer network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the solution is animated.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the solution to the problem comprises a mathematical equation imbedded therein, said method further comprising the steps of:

providing a math computation program, said math computation program capable of running the solution to the mathematical equation; and

running the solution to the mathematical equation.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the first object is a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the first object is a textbook and problem object, comprising a plurality of records of textbooks, each textbook record being associated with a plurality of records of textbook problems.

39. A method for providing a solution to a computer science problem comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the computer science problem;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a first object, said record comprising a value element;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a template object, said template object comprising a plurality of records of template solutions to problems;

interfacing, using a computer, the record from the first object and the record from the template object for generating a solution to the computer science problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a computer network.

40. A method for providing a solution to an engineering problem comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the engineering problem;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a first object, said record comprising a value element;

accessing, using a computer, a record from a template object, said template object comprising a plurality of records of template solutions to problems;

interfacing, using a computer, the record from the first object and the record from the template object for generating a solution to the engineering problem; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a computer network.

41. A system for providing a solution to a problem comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

a subject object comprising a plurality of index codes;

a template object comprising a plurality of template solutions to problems, wherein each of said plurality of template solutions comprises at least one variable element and is characterized by an index code from the subject object; and

a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems, wherein each of said records comprises an index code from the subject object and a problem variable value set comprising at least one value element;

a graphical user interface comprising at least one data input field for inputting data comprising an identifying property of a textbook; and

a computer program capable of matching an index code associated with a template solution with an index code from a record of a textbook problem.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the computer program is further capable of replacing a variable element with a value element to form a solution to a problem.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the value element of the problem variable value set is a value from a problem in a textbook.

44. The system of claim 41, further comprising a computer program capable of real-time math computation.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises a textbook object comprising data comprising at least one identifying property of at least one textbook.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the data comprising said at least one identifying property is an ISBN number.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the data comprising said at least one identifying property is an Author'"'"'s name.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the subject object further comprises a plurality of subject topics in varying degrees of specificity, and wherein each subject topic is associated with an index code.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises an indexed exposition object comprising a plurality of expositions, each of which is associated with a subject topic from the subject object.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein each exposition of the exposition object is characterized by an index code corresponding to its associated subject topic from the subject object.

51. A system for providing a solution to a problem comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

a subject object comprising a plurality of index codes;

a template object comprising a plurality of template solutions to problems, wherein each of said plurality of template solutions comprises at least one variable element and is characterized by an index code from the subject object; and

a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems, wherein each of said records comprises an index code from the subject object and a problem variable value set comprising at least one value element;

a computer program capable of real-time math computation; and

a computer program capable of matching an index code associated with a template solution with an index code from a record of a textbook problem.

52. A system for providing a solution to a problem comprising:

a computer readable medium comprising;

a subject object comprising a plurality of index codes;

a template object comprising a plurality of template solutions to problems, wherein each of said plurality of template solutions comprises at least one variable element and is characterized by an index code from the subject object;

a textbook problem object comprising a plurality of records of textbook problems, wherein each of said records comprises an index code from the subject object and a problem variable value set comprising at least one value element;

a textbook object comprising data comprising at least one identifying property of at least one textbook; and

a computer program capable of matching an index code associated with a template solution with an index code from a record of a textbook problem.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the data comprising said at least one identifying property of at least one textbook is an ISBN number.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the data comprising said at least one identifying property of at least one textbook is an author'"'"'s name.

55. A method for providing a solution to a problem comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical user interface comprising at least one data input field for inputting data comprising an identifying property of a textbook;

providing a first object stored in computer readable memory, said object comprising a plurality of problem variable value sets, wherein each of said problem variable value sets comprises a value element;

providing a template object stored in computer readable memory, said template object comprising a plurality of template solutions to problems, wherein each of said plurality of template solutions comprises a variable element;

providing a computer program capable of replacing variable elements with value elements;

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem; and

replacing, using the computer program, the variable element of one of the plurality of template solutions with the value element of one of the plurality of problem variable value sets to form a solution to the problem.

56. A method for providing a solution to a math problem from a textbook comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem, said request comprising an identifying property of the problem;

searching, using a computer, a database of solutions to textbook problems, said database comprising the solution to the problem, said solution comprising an identifying property;

identifying, using a computer, a solution to the problem by matching the identifying property of the request to the identifying property of the solution; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a global computer network.

57. A method for providing a solution to a chemistry problem from a textbook comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem, said request comprising an identifying property of the problem;

searching, using a computer, a database of solutions to textbook problems, said database comprising the solution to the problem, said solution comprising an identifying property;

identifying, using a computer, a solution to the problem by matching the identifying property of the request to the identifying property of the solution; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a global computer network.

58. A method for providing a solution to a physics problem from a textbook comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem, said request comprising an identifying property of the problem;

searching, using a computer, a database of solutions to textbook problems, said database comprising the solution to the problem, said solution comprising an identifying property;

identifying, using a computer, a solution to the problem by matching the identifying property of the request to the identifying property of the solution; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a global computer network.

59. A method for providing a solution to a problem from a textbook comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem, said request comprising an identifying property of the problem;

searching, using a computer, a database of solutions to textbook problems, said database comprising the solution to the problem, said solution comprising an identifying property, wherein the identifying property is the number of the problem in the textbook;

identifying, using a computer, a solution to the problem by matching the identifying property of the request to the identifying property of the solution, wherein the identifying property of the request is the number of the problem in the textbook; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a global computer network.

60. A method for providing a solution to a problem from a textbook comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem, said request comprising an identifying property of the problem;

searching, using a computer, a database of solutions to textbook problems, said database comprising the solution to the problem, said solution comprising an identifying property;

identifying, using a computer, a solution to the problem by matching the identifying property of the request to the identifying property of the solution; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a global computer network, wherein said solution is animated.

61. A method for providing a solution to a problem from a textbook comprising the steps of:

receiving, using a computer, a request for a solution to the problem, said request comprising an identifying property of the problem;

searching, using a computer, a database of solutions to textbook problems, said database comprising the solution to the problem, said solution comprising an identifying property;

identifying, using a computer, a solution to the problem by matching the identifying property of the request to the identifying property of the solution; and

transmitting, using a computer, said solution over a global computer network, wherein the solution is transmitted in a video stream.