Method of providing audio format professional information update service, via an electronic network

• US 8,170,920 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James D Welch
• Original Assignee: James D Welch
• Inventors: Welch, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pond, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US12/586,525
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/2057 Career enhancement or continuing education service
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of providing continuing education for keeping professionals aware and informed of developments in easily accessed categorized topical areas of interest utilizing an electronic network (eg. the Internet), primarily as an audio format distribution means. The method can include a client providing attestation of access and listened-to-grasping of the information over the internet, the client making permanent library copies, and the client accessing information utilizing time and/or topic tags.

Claims

1. A method of accessing audio formatted content from an information provider'"'"'s website server by one or more user computers to receive professional continuing education information, comprising the steps of:

a) accessing the information provider'"'"'s website server by one or more user computers connected to the server by a computer network;

practicing steps b and c in either order;

b) selecting by a user audio formatted content organized at the website by topical categories, wherein the topical categories are specific to maintaining professional currency;

c) identifying by the user an information provider accepted access method requirement;

d) satisfying the information provider access method requirement and accessing the selected audio formatted content from the website server by the user computer wherein the selected audio formatted content is tagged with time and/or topic information and wherein the selected audio formatted content by the user is updated at the website server between at least two accesses by the user of the selected audio formatted content;

e) said method further comprising at least one selection from the group consisting of;

re-accessing previously accessed time tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers;

re-accessing previously accessed key word tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers; and

re-accessing previously accessed time and key word tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the audio formatted content comprises at least one selection from the group consisting of:

it is in a law related topic selected from;

patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, computer, internet, unfair competition, high-tech, contract, tort, property, wills &

trusts, criminal, evidence, constitutional, corporate, taxation, estate planning, securities, banking, bankruptcy, accounting, trade regulation, commodities, insurance, energy, environment and water, aviation, automobile, labor, social security, family, divorce, juvenile, workman'"'"'s compensation, personal injury, product liability, employment practices, administrative, educational, mass communications, medical, farm, and military;

it is in a science, medical and technology related area selected from;

astronomy, architecture, mathmatics/statistics, physics, chemistry, engineering (electrical/electronic, nuclear, mechanical, civil, chemical, biological, genomic, construction, transportation, industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, computer, energy, environmental), horticulture/forestry, geology, food science, nutrition, psychology, zoology, veterinary, medicine (anatomy, physiology, bio-chemistry, cardiology, renal, gastro-intestinal, pulmonary, pathology, microbiology), pharmacy, nursing;

it provides specific approach to practice tips;

it provides a journal summary;

it is an interview;

it is expert commentary;

it is client Hyde Park;

it is client advertising;

it is a live audio presentation;

it concerns Scientology/Dianetics or other religion.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the user receives at the user'"'"'s computer supplemental text and/or visually formatted content in addition to the audio formatted content.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the website serve delivers to the user'"'"'s computer a citation to a source of additional information regarding a topic.

5. A method as in claim 1, which further comprises:

f) recording selected audio formatted content in machine readable media by one or more user computers.

6. A method as in claim 1, which, after step d and/or e, further comprises sending a notice to the website server and/or a licensing body computer by the user, acknowledgement of audio delivery of the received audio formatted content, wherein the notice provides attestation of completion, or provides a completed test, questionnaire or results from the doing thereof.

7. A method of accessing audio formatted content from an information provider'"'"'s website server by one or more user computers to receive professional continuing education information, comprising the steps of:

a) accessing the information provider'"'"'s website server by one or more user computers connected to the server by a computer network;

practicing steps b and c in either order;

b) selecting by a user audio formatted content organized at the website by topical categories, wherein the topical categories are specific to maintaining professional currency;

c) identifying by the user an information provider accepted access method requirement;

d) satisfying the information provider access method requirement and accessing the selected audio formatted content from the website server by the user computer wherein the selected audio formatted content is tagged with time and/or topic information and wherein the selected audio formatted content by the user is updated at the website server between at least two accesses by the user of the selected audio formatted content;

e) sending a notice to the website server and/or a licensing body computer by the user, acknowledgement of audio delivery of the received audio formatted content, wherein the notice provides attestation of completion, or provides a completed test, questionnaire or results from the doing thereof.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the audio formatted content comprises at least one selection from the group consisting of:

it is in a law related topic selected from;

patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, computer, internet, unfair competition, high-tech, contract, tort, property, wills &

trusts, criminal, evidence, constitutional, corporate, taxation, estate planning, securities, banking, bankruptcy, accounting, trade regulation, commodities, insurance, energy, environment and water, aviation, automobile, labor, social security, family, divorce, juvenile, workman'"'"'s compensation, personal injury, product liability, employment practices, administrative, educational, mass communications, medical, farm, and military;

it is in a science, medical and technology related area selected from;

astronomy, architecture, mathmatics/statistics, physics, chemistry, engineering (electrical/electronic, nuclear, mechanical, civil, chemical, biological, genomic, construction, transportation, industrial, manufacturing, agricultural, computer, energy, environmental), horticulture/forestry, geology, food science, nutrition, psychology, zoology, veterinary, medicine (anatomy, physiology, bio-chemistry, cardiology, renal, gastro-intestinal, pulmonary, pathology, microbiology), pharmacy, nursing;

it provides specific approach to practice tips;

it provides a journal summary;

it is an interview;

it is expert commentary;

it is client Hyde Park;

it is client advertising;

it is a live audio presentation;

it concerns Scientology/Dianetics or other religion.

9. A method as in claim 7 wherein the user receives at the user'"'"'s computer supplemental text and/or visually formatted content in addition to the audio formatted content.

10. A method as in claim 7 wherein the website serve delivers to the user'"'"'s computer a citation to a source of additional information regarding a topic.

11. A method as in claim 7, which further comprises:

f) recording selected audio formatted content in machine readable media by one or more user computers.

12. A method as in claim 7, which, after step d and/or e, further comprises at least one selection from the group consisting of:

re-accessing previously accessed time tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers;

re-accessing previously accessed key word tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers; and

re-accessing previously accessed time and key word tagged audio formatted content by one or more user computers.