Interactive simulations utilizing a remote knowledge base

• US 6,993,513 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Indeliq, Inc. (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Beams, Brian R., Harris, Scott B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holmes, Michael B.
• Application Number:
  US09/935,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20030084015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 706 45- 50
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/18 Book-keeping or economics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• 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

Abstract

A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a training opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The difficulty level is automatically adjusted to the student'"'"'s skill level. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized audio, video, graphics and animation used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple “correct” answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner. A robust business model provides support for realistic activities and allows a user to experience real world consequences for their actions and decisions and entails realtime decision-making and synthesis of the educational material. A dynamic feedback system is utilized that narrowly tailors feedback and focuses it based on the performance and characteristics of the student to assist the student in reaching a predefined goal.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information indicative of a goal, wherein the goal is determined by a first indicia associated with a user;

(b) prompting the user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) receiving the response to the goal;

(d) establishing a session with the remote knowledge base;

(e) calculating a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal utilizing the remote knowledge base; and

(f) providing feedback to the user reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

2. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 1, wherein the first indicia includes a previous response to a previous goal.

3. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 1, wherein the first indicia includes a profile of the user.

4. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 1, wherein the first indicia includes a second indicia associated with another user.

5. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 1, wherein the method is executed on a plurality of servers which are coupled through a computer network.

6. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

7. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

8. A method for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 5, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

9. An apparatus for establishing a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base, comprising:

(a) logic that receives information indicative of a goal, wherein the goal is determined by a first indicia associated with a user;

(b) logic that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) logic that receives the response to the goal;

(d) logic that establishes a session with the remote knowledge base;

(e) logic that calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal utilizing the remote knowledge base; and

(f) logic that provides feedback to the user reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

10. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base, comprising:

(a) a code segment that receives information indicative of a goal, wherein the goal is determined by a first indicia associated with a user;

(b) a code segment that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) a code segment that receives the response to the goal;

(d) a code segment that establishes a session with the remote knowledge base;

(e) a code segment that calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal utilizing the remote knowledge base; and

(f) a code segment that provides feedback to the user reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

11. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 10, wherein the first indicia includes a previous response to a previous goal.

12. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 10, first indicia includes a profile of the user.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 10, wherein the first indicia includes a second indicia associated with another user.

14. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 10, wherein the computer program is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled through a computer network.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

16. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

17. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a training session utilizing a remote knowledge base as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

18. A method for establishing a virtual consultant training session, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information indicative of a goal;

(b) prompting a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) receiving the response to the goal;

(d) calculating a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal utilizing a virtual consultant training session;

(e) providing feedback to the user reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal;

(f) invoking a help engine from the virtual consultant training session to assist the user in response to a first indicia associated with the user; and

(g) utilizing the help engine to present remedial information to aid the user utilizing the first indicia and a knowledge base, wherein the first indicia includes the response to the goal.

19. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 18, wherein the first indicia includes a previous response to a previous goal.

20. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 18, wherein the first indicia includes a profile of the user.

21. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 18, wherein the first indicia includes a second indicia associated with another user.

22. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 18, wherein the knowledge base is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled to a computer network.

23. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 22, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

24. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 22, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

25. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 22, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

26. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 18, wherein the help engine includes notification of a virtual director engine.

27. The method for establishing a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 26, wherein the virtual director engine includes a domain expert.

28. An apparatus for establishing a virtual consultant training session, comprising:

(a) logic that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) logic that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) logic that receives the response to the goal;

(d) logic that calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal utilizing a virtual consultant training session;

(e) logic that provides feedback to the user reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal;

(f) logic that invokes a help engine from the virtual consultant training session to assist the user in response to a first indicia associated with the user; and

(g) logic that utilizes the help engine to present remedial information to aid the user utilizing the first indicia and a knowledge base;

wherein the first indicia includes the response to the goal.

29. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session, comprising:

(a) a code segment that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) a code segment that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) a code segment that receives the response to the goal;

(d) a code segment that calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal utilizing a virtual consultant training session;

(e) a code segment that provides feedback to the user reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal;

(f) a code segment that invokes a help engine from the virtual consultant training session to assist the user in response to a first indicia associated with the user; and

(g) a code segment that utilizes the help engine to present remedial information to aid the user utilizing the first indicia and a knowledge base;

wherein the first indicia includes the response to the goal.

30. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 29, wherein the first indicia includes a previous response to a previous goal.

31. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 29, wherein the first indicia includes a profile of the user.

32. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 29, wherein the first indicia includes a second indicia associated with another user.

33. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 29, wherein the knowledge base is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled to a computer network.

34. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 33, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

35. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 33, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

36. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 33, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

37. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 29, wherein the help engine includes notification of a virtual director engine.

38. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a virtual consultant training session as recited in claim 37, wherein the virtual director-engine includes a domain expert.

39. A method for establishing a collaborative training session for a plurality of users, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information indicative of a goal;

(b) prompting the users to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) receiving the response to the goal;

(d) providing at least one user with feedback from at least one other user, wherein the feedback is designed to assist the at least one user to achieve the goal;

(e) invoking a chat room to assist the users in achieving the goal.

40. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 39, further comprising the step of calculating a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal.

41. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 40, wherein the level of congruency is calculated by a virtual director engine.

42. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 41, wherein the virtual director engine is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled to a computer network.

43. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 42, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

44. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 42, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

45. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 42, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

46. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 41, wherein the virtual director engine calculates the level of congruency using a previous response of one of the users.

47. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 41, wherein the virtual director engine calculates the level of congruency with a success in a previous response of one of the users.

48. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 39, wherein the help engine includes a notification of the virtual director engine.

49. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 48, wherein the virtual director engine includes a domain expert engine.

50. An apparatus for establishing a collaborative training session for a plurality of users comprising:

(a) logic that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) logic that prompts the users to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) logic that receives the response to the goal;

(d) logic that provides feedback to at least one user from at least one other user, wherein the feedback is designed to assist the at least one user to achieve the goal;

(e) logic that invokes a chat room to assist the users in achieving the goal.

51. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session for a plurality of users, comprising:

(a) a code segment that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) a code segment that prompts the users to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) a code segment that receives the response to the goal;

(d) a code segment that provides feedback to at least one user from at least one other user, wherein the feedback is designed to assist the at least one user to achieve the goal;

(e) a code segment that invokes a chat room to assist the users in achieving the goal.

52. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 51, further comprising a code segment which calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal.

53. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 52, wherein the level of congruency is calculated by a virtual director engine.

54. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 53, wherein the virtual director engine is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled to a computer network.

55. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 54, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

56. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 54, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

57. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 54, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

58. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 53, wherein the virtual director engine calculates the level of congruency with a success in a previous response of one of the users.

59. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 53, wherein the help engine includes a notification of the virtual director engine.

60. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 59, wherein the virtual director engine includes a domain expert engine.

61. A method for establishing a collaborative training session, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving information indicative of a goal;

(b) prompting a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) receiving the response to the goal;

(d) calculating a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal; and

(e) providing feedback to the user from a collaborative session reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

62. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 61, wherein the method is executed on a plurality of servers that are coupled through a computer network.

63. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 62, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

64. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 62, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

65. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 62, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

66. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 61, wherein the training session is presented using prerecorded multimedia.

67. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 61, wherein the training session is presented using real-time multimedia.

68. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 61, wherein the level of congruency is calculated by a virtual director engine.

69. The method for establishing a collaborative training session as recited in claim 68, wherein the virtual director engine is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled through a computer network.

70. An apparatus for establishing a collaborative training session, comprising:

(a) logic that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) logic that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) logic that receives the response to the goal;

(d) logic that calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal;

(g) logic that provides feedback to the user from a collaborative session reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

71. A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session, comprising:

(a) a code segment that receives information indicative of a goal;

(b) a code segment that prompts a user to enter a response congruent with the goal;

(c) a code segment that receives the response to the goal;

(d) a code segment that calculates a level of congruency between the response and a target response designed to achieve the goal;

(e) a code segment that provides feedback to the user from a collaborative session reflecting the level of congruency to assist the user in achieving the goal.

72. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 71, wherein the computer program is resident on a plurality of servers which are coupled through a computer network.

73. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 72, wherein the computer network supports Internet Protocol (IP).

74. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 72, wherein the computer network includes a Local Area Network (LAN).

75. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 72, wherein the computer network includes a Wide Area Network (WAN).

76. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 71, wherein the training session is presented using prerecorded multimedia.

77. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 71, wherein the training session is presented using real-time multimedia.

78. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 71, wherein the level of congruency is calculated by a virtual director engine.

79. The computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium that establishes a collaborative training session as recited in claim 78, wherein the virtual director engine is resident on a plurality of servers that are coupled through a computer network.