Apparatus and method for generating and presenting an audio visual lesson plan

Claim 1

A system for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in accordance with a predetermined sequence, the system comprising: a storage medium; means for inputting a lesson plan to the storage medium, the lesson plan comprising a data file having a format corresponding to the sequence defined by the lesson plan, the lesson plan including labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels; a processor for interpreting the lesson plan in the storage medium and distinguishing between identifying labels and control commands, the processor providing first output signals in response to the identifying labels and second output signals in response to the control commands; a switching network responsive to the first output signals from the processor for connecting the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; a driver responsive to the second output signals from the processor for controlling the operation of the connected audiovisual resource in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; and and a non-volatile storage medium for storing the lesson plan, wherein the inputting means inputs the lesson plan to the storage medium from the non-volatile storage medium.

Claim 2

A system for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in accordance with a predetermined sequence, the system comprising: a storage medium; means for inputting a lesson plan to the storage medium, the lesson plan comprising a data file having a format corresponding to the sequence defined by the lesson plan, the lesson plan including labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels; a processor for interpreting the lesson plan in the storage medium and distinguishing between identifying labels and control commands, the processor providing first output signals in response to the identifying labels and second output signals in response to the control commands; a switching network responsive to the first output signals from the processor for connecting the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; a driver responsive to the second output signals from the processor for controlling the operation of the connected audiovisual resource in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; and and a non-volatile storage medium for storing the lesson plan, wherein the inputting means inputs the lesson plan to the storage medium from the non-volatile storage medium.

Claim 19

A system for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in accordance with a predetermined sequence, the system comprising: a storage medium; inputting means including a personal computer for inputting a lesson plan to the storage medium, the lesson plan comprising a data file having a format corresponding to the sequence defined by the lesson plan, the lesson plan including labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources, wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels, the personal computer reading the lesson plan data file and sequentially transmitting it to the storage medium; a processor for interpreting the lesson plan in the storage medium and distinguishing between identifying labels and control commands, the processor providing first output signals in response to the identifying labels and second output signals in response to the control commands; a switching network responsive to the first output signals from the processor for connecting the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; a driver responsive to the second output signals from the processor for controlling the operation of the connected audiovisual resource in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; and means for providing an electrical signal to the personal computer, the personal computer modifying the sequential transmission of the lesson plan data to the storage medium in response to the signal.

Claim 20

A system for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in accordance with a predetermined sequence, the system comprising: a storage medium; inputting means including a personal computer for inputting a lesson plan to the storage medium, the lesson plan comprising a data file having a format corresponding to the sequence defined by the lesson plan, the lesson plan including labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources, wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels, the personal computer reading the lesson plan data file and sequentially transmitting it to the storage medium; a processor for interpreting the lesson plan in the storage medium and distinguishing between identifying labels and control commands, the processor providing first output signals in response to the identifying labels and second output signals in response to the control commands; a switching network responsive to the first output signals from the processor for connecting the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; a driver responsive to the second output signals from the processor for controlling the operation of the connected audiovisual resource in the predetermined sequence as defined by the lesson plan; and means for providing an electrical signal to the personal computer, the personal computer modifying the sequential transmission of the lesson plan data to the storage medium in response to the signal.

Claim 22

A method of generating a predetermined sequence for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor, comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; scheduling the selected media for playback at a predetermined date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources at the predetermined date and time; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources, wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels and wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting the audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor, by providing images on a display corresponding to the identifying labels and the control commands, and recording the identifying labels and control commands into the format of the lesson plan; and saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory.

Claim 23

A method of generating a predetermined sequence for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor, comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; scheduling the selected media for playback at a predetermined date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources at the predetermined date and time; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources, wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels and wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting the audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor, by providing images on a display corresponding to the identifying labels and the control commands, and recording the identifying labels and control commands into the format of the lesson plan; and saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory.

Claim 26

A method of presenting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; selecting identifying labels for connecting the outputs of selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor; selecting control commands for controlling the playback operation of the selected media in the selected ones of the audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the identifying labels; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising the identifying labels and the associated control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting and controlling the playback of audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory; scheduling the assembled lesson plan for playback at a predetermined date and time; retrieving the lesson plan from non-volatile memory into a memory associated with a processor prior to the scheduled date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources prior to the scheduled date and time; and causing the processor to execute the lesson plan in the associated memory at the scheduled date and time in accordance with the format of the lesson plan wherein the processor 1) connects the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) controls the playback operation of the connected audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands associated with the identifying labels, thereby presenting the audiovisual signals in the predetermined sequence.

Claim 27

A method of presenting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; selecting identifying labels for connecting the outputs of selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor; selecting control commands for controlling the playback operation of the selected media in the selected ones of the audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the identifying labels; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising the identifying labels and the associated control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting and controlling the playback of audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory; scheduling the assembled lesson plan for playback at a predetermined date and time; retrieving the lesson plan from non-volatile memory into a memory associated with a processor prior to the scheduled date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources prior to the scheduled date and time; and causing the processor to execute the lesson plan in the associated memory at the scheduled date and time in accordance with the format of the lesson plan wherein the processor 1) connects the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) controls the playback operation of the connected audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands associated with the identifying labels, thereby presenting the audiovisual signals in the predetermined sequence.

Claim 33

A method for presenting audiovisual materials from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence and at a predetermined time and date, the method comprising the steps of: storing a lesson plan in a non-volatile memory, the lesson plan comprising data identifying the audiovisual materials, the identifying labels and the control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are arranged in a format that determines the predetermined sequence of the presentation; scheduling the lesson plan for presentation at the predetermined time and date; retrieving the lesson plan from the non-volatile memory; loading the audiovisual materials into the audiovisual playback resources in accordance with the data identifying the audiovisual materials; and executing the lesson plan in a sequence defined by the format at the predetermined date and time to 1) connect selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) to control each of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands, in order to reproduce the predetermined sequence for the presentation.

Claim 34

A method for presenting audiovisual materials from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence and at a predetermined time and date, the method comprising the steps of: storing a lesson plan in a non-volatile memory, the lesson plan comprising data identifying the audiovisual materials, the identifying labels and the control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are arranged in a format that determines the predetermined sequence of the presentation; scheduling the lesson plan for presentation at the predetermined time and date; retrieving the lesson plan from the non-volatile memory; loading the audiovisual materials into the audiovisual playback resources in accordance with the data identifying the audiovisual materials; and executing the lesson plan in a sequence defined by the format at the predetermined date and time to 1) connect selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) to control each of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands, in order to reproduce the predetermined sequence for the presentation.

Claim 35

A method of generating a predetermined sequence for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor, comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources by searching a database; scheduling the selected media for playback at a predetermined date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources at the predetermined date and time; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources, wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels and wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting the audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; and saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory.

Claim 36

A method of generating a predetermined sequence for connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor, comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources by searching a database; scheduling the selected media for playback at a predetermined date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources at the predetermined date and time; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising labels for identifying selected ones of the audiovisual resources and control commands for the selected audiovisual resources, wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the labels and wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting the audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; and saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory.

Claim 37

A method of presenting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; selecting identifying labels for connecting the outputs of selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor; selecting control commands for controlling the playback operation of the selected media in the selected ones of the audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the identifying labels; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising the identifying labels and the associated control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting and controlling the playback of audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; saving the assembled lession plan to a non-volatile memory; scheduling the assembled lesson plan for playback at a predetermined date and time; retrieving the lesson plan from non-volatile memory into a memory associated with a processor prior to the scheduled date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources prior to the scheduled date and time; causing the processor to execute the assembled lesson plan in the associated memory at the scheduled date and time in accordance with the format of the assembled lesson plan wherein the processor 1) connects the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) controls the playback operation of the connected audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands associated with the identifying labels, thereby presenting the audiovisual signals in the predetermined sequence; and manually halting and resuming the assembled lesson plan during the presentation.

Claim 38

A method of presenting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; selecting identifying labels for connecting the outputs of selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor; selecting control commands for controlling the playback operation of the selected media in the selected ones of the audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the identifying labels; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising the identifying labels and the associated control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting and controlling the playback of audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; saving the assembled lession plan to a non-volatile memory; scheduling the assembled lesson plan for playback at a predetermined date and time; retrieving the lesson plan from non-volatile memory into a memory associated with a processor prior to the scheduled date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources prior to the scheduled date and time; causing the processor to execute the assembled lesson plan in the associated memory at the scheduled date and time in accordance with the format of the assembled lesson plan wherein the processor 1) connects the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) controls the playback operation of the connected audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands associated with the identifying labels, thereby presenting the audiovisual signals in the predetermined sequence; and manually halting and resuming the assembled lesson plan during the presentation.

Claim 39

A method of presenting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; selecting identifying labels for connecting the outputs of selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor; selecting control commands for controlling the playback operation of the selected media in the selected ones of the audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the identifying labels; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising the identifying labels and the associated control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting and controlling the playback of audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory; scheduling the lesson plan for playback at a predetermined date and time; retrieving the lesson plan from non-volatile memory into a memory associated with a processor prior to the scheduled date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources prior to the scheduled date and time; causing the processor to execute the lesson plan in the associated memory at the scheduled date and time in accordance with the format of the lesson plan wherein the processor 1) connects the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) controls the playback operation of the connected audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands associated with the identifying labels, thereby presenting the audiovisual signals in the predetermined sequence; and manually modifying the predetermined sequence of the lesson plan during the playback.

Claim 40

A method of presenting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to at least one monitor in a predetermined sequence, the method comprising the steps of: selecting media for playback in the audiovisual resources; selecting identifying labels for connecting the outputs of selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor; selecting control commands for controlling the playback operation of the selected media in the selected ones of the audiovisual resources wherein each of the control commands is associated with one of the identifying labels; assembling into a memory a lesson plan comprising the identifying labels and the associated control commands, wherein the identifying labels and control commands are assembled into a format that determines the predetermined sequence for connecting and controlling the playback of audiovisual output signals from the audiovisual resources to the at least one monitor; saving the assembled lesson plan to a non-volatile memory; scheduling the lesson plan for playback at a predetermined date and time; retrieving the lesson plan from non-volatile memory into a memory associated with a processor prior to the scheduled date and time; loading the media into appropriate audiovisual resources prior to the scheduled date and time; causing the processor to execute the lesson plan in the associated memory at the scheduled date and time in accordance with the format of the lesson plan wherein the processor 1) connects the outputs of the selected ones of the audiovisual resources to the monitor in accordance with the identifying labels, and 2) controls the playback operation of the connected audiovisual resources in accordance with the control commands associated with the identifying labels, thereby presenting the audiovisual signals in the predetermined sequence; and manually modifying the predetermined sequence of the lesson plan during the playback.