US4710877A — Device for the programmed teaching of arabic lang…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

A teaching device for Arabic language and Qur'anic recitation which comprises: (a) an optical display means; (b) an interface means connected to said optical display means; (c) a first storage media for storage of Arabic character patterns for use in generation of characters; (d) a second storage media for coded Arabic allophones/syllables and words; (e) a first storage means for coded words and coded sounds; (f) a second storage means for teaching programs, the programs including limited-choice operation commands and options in a programmed hierarchy, adapted to lead a student through progressing levels in accord with the student's response to a series of partially randomized questions and prompts, utilizing interactive evaluation means; (g) an input means whereby selection of said operation commands is achieved; (h) a voice synthesis means and means for speech and sound production; (i) a computer means for coupling the said optical display means to said input means, to said first and second storage media, to said first and second storage means, and to said voice synthesis means; and (j) an external storage means for operating software having an interface with said computer means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 187 words

A teaching device for Arabic language and Qur'anic recitation which comprises: (a) an optical display means; (b) an interface means connected to said optical display means; (c) a first storage media for storage of Arabic character patterns for use in generation of characters; (d) a second storage media for coded Arabic allophones/syllables and words; (e) a first storage means for coded words and coded sounds; (f) a second storage means for teaching programs, the programs including limited-choice operation commands and options in a programmed hierarchy, adapted to lead a student through progressing levels in accord with the student's response to a series of partially randomized questions and prompts, utilizing interactive evaluation means; (g) an input means whereby selection of said operation commands is achieved; (h) a voice synthesis means and means for speech and sound production; (i) a computer means for coupling the said optical display means to said input means, to said first and second storage media, to said first and second storage means, and to said voice synthesis means; and (j) an external storage means for operating software having an interface with said computer means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 wherein said optical display means is a video terminal, a black-and-white television, or a color television set.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

A teaching device according to claim 2 wherein said interface means to said optical display means is compatable with the European T.V. PAL system or the standard American NTSC system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 wherein the optical display means is a dot matrix liquid crystal display, and the voice synthesis means comprises a built-in speaker.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 wherein said external storage means is one or more solid state Read-Only-Memories.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 wherein the external storage means comprises a cassette, a disk, a floppy disk, or a magnetic bubble memory.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 wherein the input means comprises one or more of the following devices: a keyboard, a light pen, a joystick, a mouse, or a touch screen.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 70 words

A teaching device according to claim 7 wherein the input means is a remote, hand-held keyboard incorporating means to move pointers or objects up, down, right, or left on the screen, means to command the teaching device to start actions, to command the teaching device to pause or quit actions and one or more general purpose keys adapted to be programmed to generate others of said operation commands and options.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

A teaching device according to claim 8 in which the remote keyboard comprises means to communicate with the other elements of the teaching device through one or more of the following means: a cable, ultrasonic signals, or electromagnetic wave signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 comprising firmware and hardware means incorporating a set of rules of pronunciation of the Arabic language adapted to be used to generate a string of allophones for Arabic words from a coded input.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 wherein said optical display means includes variable-sized character units, allowing high resolution display of Qur'anic script and modifiers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

A teaching device according to claim 1 comprising voice input means, means for encoding input speech, storage means for coded words and sentence patterns or templates, and a software means for word recognition and sentence recognition.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 180 words

A system for teaching of Arabic language and Qur'anic recitation, comprising: a microprocessor, a quantity of Random Access Memory accessible to the microprocessor, a video display means, a video display processor interfacing the microprocessor with the video display means, an audio output means, a voice synthesizer processor adapted to accept the linear prediction coding coefficients of allophones and tones to provide an audio signal, a teaching program accessible to the microprocessor, the teaching program driven by menus and limited-option decision nodes, and a Read Only Memory containing at least (1) an operating system, (2) a character pattern file containing variable-dimension matrices of the dot patterns of the Arabic characters and other symbols, (3) an Arabic allophone/syllable file including linear prediction coding coefficients (4) a dictionary file containing Arabic words, and oral and visual messages, (5) a graphics file, (6) a primary hierarchical Arabic teaching program and a non-alphanumeric input means having just sufficient input options to choose from said menus and among said limited options at the decision nodes of either the primary teaching program or the extended teaching program.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 180 words

A system for teaching of Arabic language and Qur'anic recitation, comprising: a microprocessor, a quantity of Random Access Memory accessible to the microprocessor, a video display means, a video display processor interfacing the microprocessor with the video display means, an audio output means, a voice synthesizer processor adapted to accept the linear prediction coding coefficients of allophones and tones to provide an audio signal, a teaching program accessible to the microprocessor, the teaching program driven by menus and limited-option decision nodes, and a Read Only Memory containing at least (1) an operating system, (2) a character pattern file containing variable-dimension matrices of the dot patterns of the Arabic characters and other symbols, (3) an Arabic allophone/syllable file including linear prediction coding coefficients (4) a dictionary file containing Arabic words, and oral and visual messages, (5) a graphics file, (6) a primary hierarchical Arabic teaching program and a non-alphanumeric input means having just sufficient input options to choose from said menus and among said limited options at the decision nodes of either the primary teaching program or the extended teaching program.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the input keyboard has no more than 8 keys.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a character code address table containing data segments including a character attribute code and character pattern addresses associated with the character pattern file.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising an Arabic word file containing variable length data segments.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

A system as recited in claim 16 in which each variable length data segment contains an identification field, a character string field, a control byte, an allophone string field which may be empty (in which case the bytes are not allocated), and an end of segment marker.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as recited in claim 17 wherein said read only memory contains a collection of rules for arabic pronunciation.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

A system as recited in claim 18 wherein the identification field is adapted to indicate that the voicing of the corresponding word follows the rules of pronunciation contained in the Read Only Memory and that no allophone reconstruction is necessary.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising an oral message file.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

A system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a visual messages file.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 89 words

A system as recited in claim 13 wherein the video display means is capable of several coded colors and is divided into cells and frames, the system further comprising a memory conserving graphics file containing variable length graphics data segments, the segments comprising a frame size byte, a background color code byte, a frame mask indicating which cells in a frame contain non-trivial information, a cell mask field for each cell which contains information, each cell mask field having an on/off color code byte and a pixel pattern field.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-11-30	1991-06-01	1991-12-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-11-30	1995-06-01	1995-12-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-11-30	1999-06-01	1999-12-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Device for the programmed teaching of arabic language and recitations

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag