US6480698B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Learning method and system based on questioning
Assignee: IP LEARN Inc
•
Filing: 2001-08-20
•
Granted: 2002-11-12
•
Expires: 2021-08-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a system to teach a user a subject based on his questions. The system allows the user to control his learning process, and helps to fill in gaps of misunderstanding in the subject. In one embodiment, the system, including a database, presents study materials on the subject to the user. After working on the presented materials, the user enters his question into the system, which generates an answer to the question, and presents it to him. Then the system compares the question with one or more questions previously entered by the user to determine his understanding level in the subject. Based on the determination, the system may present to the user appropriate study materials. The user typically asks more than one question, and the process of answering his question by the system repeats.
Inventors
- 👤 Chi Fai Ho
- 👤 Peter P. Tong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:45
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/927; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A computer-implemented method for providing a user with information on a subject, said method comprising: retrieving information on the subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user; determining a plurality of responses associated with the subject that are related to a natural-language initial question asked by the user requesting information on the subject; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of responses from the user; and forwarding information associated with the selected one of the plurality of responses to the user, thereby further providing the user with information on the subject.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A computer-implemented method for providing a user with information on a subject, said method comprising: retrieving information on the subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user; determining a plurality of responses associated with the subject that are related to a natural-language initial question asked by the user requesting information on the subject; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of responses from the user; and forwarding information associated with the selected one of the plurality of responses to the user, thereby further providing the user with information on the subject.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method uses semantic and grammatical processing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of responses are stored in a database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 2 , wherein said determining of the plurality of responses associated with the subject operates to identify the plurality of responses from a large pool of predetermined responses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises: forwarding, after said determining and prior to said receiving, the plurality of responses to the user for the selection of one of the plurality of responses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of responses are natural language questions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said computer-implemented method is performed by a first computer, and wherein the initial question is asked by the user from a second computer, the second computer coupleable to first computer through a network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the information forwarded to the user is an answer to the selected one of the plurality of responses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said computer-implemented method is performed by a first computer, and wherein the initial question is asked by the user from a second computer, the second computer coupleable to first computer through a network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises: comparing at least a component in the initial question to numerous components stored in a database to produce comparison information; and selecting the plurality of responses based on the comparison information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises: determining whether the initial question is ambiguous; and resolving the ambiguity if the initial question is ambiguous.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said method uses semantic and grammatical processing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said determining whether the initial question is ambiguous operates to identify a word in the initial question that is ambiguous due to its spelling, and wherein said resolving operates to resolve the ambiguity in the initial question by at least replacing the word with another word having a correct spelling.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12 , said method is performed by a first computer, which is coupleable through a network to a second computer, where the initial question is entered.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said determining whether the initial question is ambiguous operates to identify a word in the initial question, and wherein said resolving operates to resolve the ambiguity in the initial question by at least removing the word from the initial question.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of responses associated with the subject are further related to at least one additional input from the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said determining of the plurality of questions comprises: determining whether a word in the initial question has multiple meanings, and determining the plurality of responses by considering the multiple meanings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said determining of the plurality of responses ignores at least one grammatical component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 19 , wherein said method uses semantic and grammatical processing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method uses at least one grammatical rule and at least one semantic rule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of responses determined are independent of a word from the natural-language question.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said method uses semantic and grammatical processing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the information forwarded to the user is an answer to the selected one of the plurality of responses, and wherein the plurality of responses are stored in a database.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises: receiving a referral request from the user requesting that the initial question be referred to a human representative; and enabling a human representative to respond to the question.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 25 , wherein said method is performed by a first computer, which is coupleable through a network to a second computer, where the initial question is entered, and wherein said method uses semantic and grammatical processing.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said determining operates to resolve ambiguity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises: determining whether clarification of the initial natural language question about a subject from the user is needed; and promoting the user to clarify the initial natural language question when clarification of the natural language question is determined to be needed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 28 , wherein said method is performed by a first computer, which is coupleable through a network to a second computer, where the initial question is entered, and wherein said method uses semantic and grammatical processing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the initial question includes a plurality of words, and wherein said method depends on grouping more than one of the words in the initial question together to be analyzed, and identifying a synonym of at least one of the words in the initial question.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the initial question includes a plurality of words, and wherein said method depends on grouping more than one of the words in the initial question together to be analyzed, and identifying a synonym of the more than one of the words in the initial question.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer-implemented method for providing a user with information on a subject, said method comprising: retrieving information on the subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user; determining a plurality of responses associated with the subject that are related to a natural-language question asked by the user requesting information on the subject; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of responses from the user; and thereafter directing the user to materials associated with the selected one of the plurality of responses.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer-implemented method for providing a user with information on a subject, said method comprising: retrieving information on the subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user; determining a plurality of responses associated with the subject that are related to a natural-language question asked by the user requesting information on the subject; receiving a selection of one of the plurality of responses from the user; and thereafter directing the user to materials associated with the selected one of the plurality of responses.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32 , wherein the plurality of responses are predetermined.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32 , wherein said computer-implemented method is performed by a server computer, and wherein the question is asked by the user from a client computer, the client computer coupleable to the server computer through a network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 34 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 32 , wherein said method further comprises: receiving a referral request from the user requesting that the initial question be referred to a human representative; and enabling a human representative to respond to the question.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
116 words
A server computer that couples to a network and serves to provide users of client computers also connected to the network with information on subjects, said server computer being configured to: retrieve information on a subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user; determining a plurality of responses associated with the subject that are related to a natural-language question asked by a user from a client computer, the question asked by the user requesting information on the subject; receive a selection of one of the plurality of responses from the user; and direct the user to information associated with the selected one of the plurality of responses.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
116 words
A server computer that couples to a network and serves to provide users of client computers also connected to the network with information on subjects, said server computer being configured to: retrieve information on a subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user; determining a plurality of responses associated with the subject that are related to a natural-language question asked by a user from a client computer, the question asked by the user requesting information on the subject; receive a selection of one of the plurality of responses from the user; and direct the user to information associated with the selected one of the plurality of responses.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
A server computer as recited in claim 37 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
33 words
A server computer as recited in claim 37 , wherein said server computer further being configured to: determine whether the question is ambiguous; and resolve the ambiguity if the initial question is ambiguous.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
A server computer as recited in claim 39 , wherein said server computer further being configured to: forward the plurality of responses to the user for the selection of one of the plurality of reponses.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer-implemented method for assisting a user in learning a subject, said computer-implemented method comprising: determining a response to a natural language question from a user, the response being determined using a database, and the response being for the user to learn about the subject; sending the response to the user; receiving a referral request from the user requesting that the question be referred to a human representative; and enabling a human representative to respond to the question.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer-implemented method for assisting a user in learning a subject, said computer-implemented method comprising: determining a response to a natural language question from a user, the response being determined using a database, and the response being for the user to learn about the subject; sending the response to the user; receiving a referral request from the user requesting that the question be referred to a human representative; and enabling a human representative to respond to the question.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein, said method further comprises enabling the user to issue the referral request requesting that the question be referred to a human representative after the response has been received by the user.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein, said method further comprises enabling the user to issue, by a single action, the referral request requesting that the question be referred to a human representative after the response has been received by the user.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein, after the response has been received from the user, said method further comprises enabling the user to issue the referral request requesting that the question be referred to a human representative without having to re-enter the question.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said enabling comprises sending a message to the human representative.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 45 , wherein the message is an electronic mail message.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 45 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises: sending a responsive electronic mail message to the user, the responsive electronic mail message being from a human representative.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein the response sent includes at least an answer to the question.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein the response sent includes at least a message indicating to the user that the question cannot be answered.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 49 , wherein the message further informs the user that the question can be referred to a human representative.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises: retrieving, before said determining, information on the subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said computer-implemented method is performed at a server computer, and wherein the user interacts with a client terminal to receive the sent response and initiate the referral request, the client terminal capable of electronically communicating with the server computer over a network.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 52 , wherein the network includes at least the Internet.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 52 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises: sending a responsive electronic mail message to the user, the responsive electronic mail message being from a human representative.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 52 , wherein said method uses at least one grammatical rule and at least one semantic rule.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 52 , wherein the question includes a plurality of words, and wherein said method depends on grouping more than one of the words in the question together to be analyzed, and identifying a synonym of at least one of the words in the question.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 52 , wherein the question includes a plurality of words, and wherein said method depends on grouping more than one of the words in the question together to be analyzed, and identifying a synonym of the more than one of the words in the question.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41 , wherein said method uses grammatical and semantic processing.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-implemented method for assisting a user in learning a subject, said computer-implemented method comprising: determining whether clarification of an initial natural language question about a subject from a user is needed; prompting the user to clarify the initial natural language question when said determining determines that clarification of the natural language question is needed; thereafter determining a response to a subsequent natural language question about the subject from the user, the response being determined using a database; and sending the response to the user so as to help the user learn about the subject.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer-implemented method for assisting a user in learning a subject, said computer-implemented method comprising: determining whether clarification of an initial natural language question about a subject from a user is needed; prompting the user to clarify the initial natural language question when said determining determines that clarification of the natural language question is needed; thereafter determining a response to a subsequent natural language question about the subject from the user, the response being determined using a database; and sending the response to the user so as to help the user learn about the subject.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein said prompting comprises promoting the user to re-enter the initial natural language question.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein said promoting comprises prompting the user to enter the initial natural language question in a different way.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein said prompting comprises prompting the user to select one of a plurality of replies about the subject.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 62 , wherein the plurality of replies are clarified versions of the initial language question.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein the response includes at least an answer to the question.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein said method uses grammatical and semantic processing.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein said computer-implemented method is performed at a server computer, and wherein the user interacts with a client terminal to receive said prompting and the response, the client terminal capable of electronically communicating with the server computer over a network.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 66 , wherein the network includes at least the Internet.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 66 , wherein said method uses at least one grammatical rule and at least one semantic rule.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 66 , wherein the initial natural language question includes a plurality of words, and wherein said method depends on grouping more than one of the words in the initial natural language question together to be analyzed, and identifying a synonym of at least one of the words in the initial natural language question.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 66 , wherein the initial natural language question includes a plurality of words, and wherein said method depends on grouping more than one of the words in the initial natural language question together to be analyzed, and identifying a synonym of the more than one of the words in the initial natural language question.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 59 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises: retrieving, before said determining, information on the subject for the user to learn about the subject, the information to be presented to the user.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-11-11 | 2006-05-13 | 2006-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-11-11 | 2010-05-13 | 2010-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-11-11 | 2014-05-13 | 2014-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |