Software training system

Claim 2

A software training authoring system comprising: (a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs, and keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system; and (b) recording means for recording on a multiple channel recording medium an audio signal on a first channel and keystroke data on a second channel, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes for use as input data and commands to said predefined computer program simultaneously with the reading of the corresponding oral instructions recorded on said first channel; said computer system further including: (c) recording control means, including on/off software means for activating and deactivating said recording means; and keystroke transmission means for sending keystroke data for use in said predefined computer program to said recording means for recording on said recording medium.

Claim 3

A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recording medium is a cassette tape having first and second tracks; said audio signal is recorded on the first track of said cassette tape, and said keystroke data is recorded on the second track of said cassette tape; and said recording means includes a stereo cassette tape transport in which a cassette tape having first and second prerecorded tracks can be mounted, including means for recording signals on said first and second tracks.

Claim 4

A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 1, further including an interface for connecting said recording means to said computer system, including means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said said recording means; and means for receiving keystroke data from said computer system and recording said keystroke data on said second channel of said recording medium.

Claim 5

A software training authoring system comprising: (a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs; keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system; display means responsive to said CPU means for displaying messages; and port means for connecting said CPU means to a peripheral device; and (b) audio and keystroke signal handling means including, recording means for recording on a multiple channel recording medium an audio signal on a first channel and keystroke data on a second channel, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes corresponding to said oral instructions which are recorded for simultaneous access; and playback means for producing output signals from said first and second channels of said recording medium and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first channel available for transmission to a speaker; and (c) an interface for connecting said playback means and recording means to said port means, including means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said playback means and said recording means; and decoder means for receiving from said playback means keystroke data signals from said second channel of said recording medium, for decoding said keystroke data signals into binary keystroke data signals useable by a computer, and for enabling said computer system to receive said decoded keystroke data; said computer system further including: (d) tutorial control means, including on/off software means for activating and deactivating said playback means and recording means; keystroke transmission means for sending keystroke data for use in said predefined computer program through said port means for recording on said recording medium; and keystroke receiving means for receiving keystroke data from said playback means and for passing at least some of said keystroke data to said computer system for use as though said keystroke data came from said keyboard means.

Claim 6

A software training authoring system comprising: (a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs; keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system; display means responsive to said CPU means for displaying messages; and port means for connecting said CPU means to a peripheral device; and (b) audio and keystroke signal handling means including, recording means for recording on a multiple channel recording medium an audio signal on a first channel and keystroke data on a second channel, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes corresponding to said oral instructions which are recorded for simultaneous access; and playback means for producing output signals from said first and second channels of said recording medium and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first channel available for transmission to a speaker; and (c) an interface for connecting said playback means and recording means to said port means, including means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said playback means and said recording means; and decoder means for receiving from said playback means keystroke data signals from said second channel of said recording medium, for decoding said keystroke data signals into binary keystroke data signals useable by a computer, and for enabling said computer system to receive said decoded keystroke data; said computer system further including: (d) tutorial control means, including on/off software means for activating and deactivating said playback means and recording means; keystroke transmission means for sending keystroke data for use in said predefined computer program through said port means for recording on said recording medium; and keystroke receiving means for receiving keystroke data from said playback means and for passing at least some of said keystroke data to said computer system for use as though said keystroke data came from said keyboard means.

Claim 7

A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said recording medium is a cassette tape having first and second tracks; said audio signal is recorded on the first track of said cassette tape, and said keystroke data is recorded on the second track of said cassette tape; and said audio and keystroke signal handling means includes a stereo cassette tape transport means in which a cassette tape having first and second prerecorded tracks can be mounted, including means for producing output signals from said first and second prerecorded tracks and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first prerecorded track of a cassette tape mounted in said cassette tape transport available for transmission to a speaker.

Claim 8

A software training authoring system as set forth in claim 4, said tutorial control means including means for running a preselected computer program in said CPU means while said audio and keystroke signal handling means provides audio signals to a speaker and keystroke data to said computer system; courseware means defining a tutorial on how to use a preselected computer program, including a data base for defining a multiplicity of events, each said event defining a filter string and a timeout parameter, each said event corresponding to a preselected contextual circumstance in the running of said preselected computer program; filter means for comparing data from said keyboard with said filter string and for allowing said data from said keyboard to be further processed by said preselected computer program only if said data from said keyboard matches said filter string; and timer means for performing a predefined task if data which matches said filter string is not received from said keyboard during a time period corresponding to said timeout parameter.

Claim 9

A computer software training system as set forth in claim 4, said tutorial control means including keyboard control means for enabling and disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means, including means for disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means when said playback means is providing data to said computer system.

Claim 12

A computer software training system comprising: (a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs, keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system, display means responsive to said CPU means for displaying messages, and port means for connecting said CPU means to a peripheral device; and (b) playback means for providing an audio signal including oral instructions to a speaker, and for simultaneously providing keystroke data to said computer system; wherein said audio signal and said keystroke data have been recorded on separate first and second channels of a multiple channel recording medium, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes corresponding to said oral instructions which are recorded for simultaneous access; and said playback means including means for producing output signals from said first and second channels of said recording medium and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first channel available for transmission to a speaker; and (c) an interface for connecting said playback means and recording means to said port means, including means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said playback means and said recording means; and decorder means for receiving from said playback means keystroke data signals from said second channel of said recording medium, for decoding said keystroke data signals into binary keystroke data signals useable by a computer, and for enabling said computer system to receive said decoded keystroke data; said computer system further including: (d) tutorial control means, including on/off software means for activating and deactivating said playback means; and keystroke receiving means for receiving keystroke data from said playback means and for passing at least some of said keystroke data to said computer system for use as though said keystroke data came from said keyboard means.

Claim 13

A computer software training system comprising: (a) a computer system including central process (CPU) means for executing computer programs, keyboard means for entering data and commands into said computer system, display means responsive to said CPU means for displaying messages, and port means for connecting said CPU means to a peripheral device; and (b) playback means for providing an audio signal including oral instructions to a speaker, and for simultaneously providing keystroke data to said computer system; wherein said audio signal and said keystroke data have been recorded on separate first and second channels of a multiple channel recording medium, said audio signal and keystroke data being recorded so that both can be produced simultaneously when said recording medium is read, said audio signal including oral instructions for explaining the usage of a predefined computer program, said keystroke data including keystrokes corresponding to said oral instructions which are recorded for simultaneous access; and said playback means including means for producing output signals from said first and second channels of said recording medium and for making signals corresponding to audible sounds which have been recorded on said first channel available for transmission to a speaker; and (c) an interface for connecting said playback means and recording means to said port means, including means for enabling said computer system to activate and deactivate said playback means and said recording means; and decorder means for receiving from said playback means keystroke data signals from said second channel of said recording medium, for decoding said keystroke data signals into binary keystroke data signals useable by a computer, and for enabling said computer system to receive said decoded keystroke data; said computer system further including: (d) tutorial control means, including on/off software means for activating and deactivating said playback means; and keystroke receiving means for receiving keystroke data from said playback means and for passing at least some of said keystroke data to said computer system for use as though said keystroke data came from said keyboard means.

Claim 14

A computer software training system as set forth in claim 9, said tutorial control means including courseware means for defining a multiplicity of events, each said event defining a filter string and a timeout parameter; filter means for comparing data from said keyboard with said filter string and for allowing said data from said keyboard to be further processed by said computer system only if said data from said keyboard matches said filter string; and timer means for performing a predefined task if data which matches said filter string is not received from said keyboard during a time period corresponding to said timeout parameter.

Claim 15

A computer software training system as set forth in claim 9, said tutorial control means including means for running a preselected computer program in said CPU means while said audio and keystroke signal handling means provides audio signals to a speaker and keystroke data to said computer system; courseware means defining a tutorial on how to use a preselected computer program, including a data base for defining a multiplicity of events, each said event defining a filter string and a timeout parameter, each said event corresponding to a preselected contextual circumstance in the running of said preselected computer program; filter means for comparing data from said keyboard with said filter string and for allowing said data from said keyboard to be further processed by said preselected computer program only if said data from said keyboard matches said filter string; and timer means for performing a predefined task if data which matches said filter string is not received from said keyboard during a time period corresponding to said timeout parameter.

Claim 16

A computer software training system as set forth in claim 9, said tutorial control means including keyboard control means for enabling and disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means, including means for disabling the receipt of data from said keyboard means when said playback means is providing data to said computer system.