US5827071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method, computer program product, and system for teaching or reinforcing information without requiring user initiation of a learning sequence
Assignee: Runway Blue LLC
•
Filing: 1996-08-26
•
Granted: 1998-10-27
•
Expires: 2016-08-26
Abstract
Abstract In a given environment where a user may work, play, or otherwise interact, such as the environment provided by a system comprising computer hardware and software, the present invention provides a method, computer program product, and system for teaching reinforcing concepts, principals, and other learned information without requiring user initiation of a learning sequence. Learning or reinforcement occurs by presenting "learning frames" in the environment automatically without requiring user initiation of the learning sequence. The user of the environment receives these intrusive or non-intrusive opportunities for learning while doing other tasks within the environment and may be interrupted from the task at hand and be required to respond to the presented learning frame or may simply have the opportunity for learning without requiring interruption of the task at hand according to the implementation of the present invention. In this manner, learning occurs as a by-product of other useful work, play, or other interaction with the environment and does not require dedicated user time and overt effort.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Michael Sorensen
- 👤 Kim Linette Sorensen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:20
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/04; G09B19/0053; G09B5/00; G09B5/06; G09B5/065; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/927
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
In a computer-based environment perceived through at least one sensory means by a user, a method of teaching comprising the steps of: creating at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and presenting according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the sensory means while the user is interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a computer-based environment perceived through at least one sensory means by a user, a method of teaching comprising the steps of: creating at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and presenting according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the sensory means while the user is interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensory means is aural.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the environment includes a visual display, the sensory means is aural and the learning frame is presented as part of a visual-based computer display screen saver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensory means is visual and presenting the learning frame is accomplished through a randomly exhibited dialog box.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensory means is visual and presenting the learning frame is accomplished through a randomly displayed information window that does not appreciably interfere with the user's interaction with the environment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the sensory means is visual and presenting the learning frame is accomplished through a randomly displayed information window that requires no user interaction to remove and does not appreciably interfere with the user's interaction with the environment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the environment includes a visual display, the sensory means is visual and presenting the learning frame is accomplished through a visual-based computer display screen saver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the learning frames are ordered according to user preference.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein learning frames are automatically categorized according to a predefined criteria into useful pedagogical categories.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein learning frames are automatically categorized as trouble or mastered based on ratios of correctly answered quiz frames.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein learning frames are automatically categorized as trouble or mastered based on a number of sequentially correct responses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the user is able to create additional ones of said at least one learning frame that can be presented along with the at least one learning frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein learning frames pertain to language enhancement through teaching the meaning, pronunciation, spelling, or usage of vocabulary words and are presented as part of a vocabulary building program.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 13 where a user is allowed to provide and associate with a vocabulary word learning frame their own mnemonic device to encourage learning.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the learning frame includes hearing a recording of the user pronouncing a particular vocabulary word, sentence, spelling or usage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 13 wherein the language is other than English.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a computer-based environment, part of which is perceived through a visual display means by a user, a method of teaching comprising the steps of: creating at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and presenting according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the display means while the user s interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
In a computer-based environment, part of which is perceived through a visual display means by a user, a method of teaching comprising the steps of: creating at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and presenting according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the display means while the user s interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein presenting the learning frame is accomplished through a randomly displayed information window that requires no user interaction to remove and does not appreciably interfere with a user's interaction with the environment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein presenting the learning frame is visually presented through a visual-based computer display screen saver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the learning frames are ordered according to user preference.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a computer-based environment perceived through a visual display means by a user, the visual display means operationally connected to a computer, a computer program product for integrated instruction comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing at least one learning frame to become integrated in the environment, said computer readable program code means comprising program code means for causing the computer to create at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and program code means for causing the computer to present according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the display means while the user is interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a computer-based environment perceived through a visual display means by a user, the visual display means operationally connected to a computer, a computer program product for integrated instruction comprising: a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing at least one learning frame to become integrated in the environment, said computer readable program code means comprising program code means for causing the computer to create at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and program code means for causing the computer to present according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the display means while the user is interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 21 wherein program code means for causing the computer to present the learning creates a randomly exhibited dialog box containing the learning frame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 21 wherein program code means for causing the computer to present the learning frame creates a randomly displayed information window that requires no user interaction to remove and does not appreciably interfere with a user's interaction with the environment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 21 wherein program code means for causing the computer to present the learning frame creates a visual-based computer display screen saver with the learning frame displayed thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer program product as recited in claim 21 further comprising program code means for causing the computer to order the learning frames as selected by the user.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a computer-based environment perceived through a display means by a user, a system of teaching comprising: a storage means operationally connected to the CPU; a display means operationally connected to the CPU; means for creating at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and means for presenting according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the display means while the user is interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a computer-based environment perceived through a display means by a user, a system of teaching comprising: a storage means operationally connected to the CPU; a display means operationally connected to the CPU; means for creating at least one learning frame directed toward the user about a subject matter; and means for presenting according to a user-configured schedule independent of the environment the learning frame onto the display means while the user is interacting with the environment without requiring user initiation, the subject matter of the learning frame being substantially unrelated to what the user has been perceiving in the environment and is not integrated with the environment, so as not to disrupt the user in any substantial way from interacting with the environment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as recited in claim 26 wherein the means for presenting comprises a randomly exhibited dialog box.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as recited in claim 26 wherein the means for presenting comprises a randomly displayed information window that requires no user interaction to remove and does not appreciably interfere with a user's interaction with the environment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as recited in claim 26 wherein the means for presenting comprises a visual-based computer display screen saver.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as recited in claim 26 further comprising a means for ordering the learning frames according to user preference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4559598A
Cited
US4894777A
Cited
US5221962A
Cited
US5010495A
Cited
US5017143A
Cited
US5270800A
Cited
US5563663A
Cited
US5308244A
Cited
US5387104A
Cited
US5262860A
Cited
US5393236A
Cited
US5421731A
Cited
US5494444A
Cited
US5502504A
Cited
US5710601A
Cited
US5659366A
Cited
US5615338A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-26 | 2002-04-27 | 2002-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-26 | 2006-04-27 | 2006-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-26 | 2010-04-27 | 2010-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |