Computer based training system

Details Computer based training system Computer based training system

1998-01-08

2001-10-23

Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)

Education and demonstration

Cathode ray screen display and audio means

C434S118000, C434S365000, C348S423100, C345S215000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06308042

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to computer based training systems and their production. More particularly, the invention relates to the underlying technical control features of the system and to the technical aspects of production of such a system.
PRIOR ART DISCUSSION
British Patent Specification No. GB 2,113,887 (Cubic Corporation) and European Patent Specification No. EP 96627 (DEC) both relate to computer based training systems. In both cases, there is much emphasis on the input and output aspects such as the use of a touch panel, and little discussions of the core control aspects. In general, there has been a trend in recent years to provide more sophisticated input and output media such as higher-resolution screens, stereo audio devices, touch screen technology for inputs, microphone inputs and various other input and output devices. Further, effective programs have been developed to provide for efficient control of data inputs and outputs using such devices. For example, PCT Patent Specification No. WO 92/20059 (Matsushita) describes a demonstration control system having the ability to record, annotate and playback a graphic display. British Patent Specification No. GB 2,175,470 describes a video display controller which is particularly directed to providing overlays from diverse sources. European Patent Specification Nos. EP 518,554 and 498,106 (Adobe Systems) relate to control of pixels for generation of clear displays. The trend has therefore been towards providing a wide range of programs and hardware devices which are efficient at performing particular communication tasks.
However, the end user of a computer based training system must be provided with a wide range of different outputs and must have ample opportunity to provide interactive inputs in order to provide training feedback and also to possibly change the direction of operation of the system. Heretofore, this has led to the use of complex control programs, sophisticated interrupt handlers and program switching mechanisms, etc. Such arrangements generally provide a slow response time, provide relatively little flexibility for the end user. From the production point of view, such systems are difficult to modify for further version releases. An example of the system control approach which has been taken is described in European Patent Specification No. 352,908 (Hewlett-Packard). In this system, a processor means receives messages which indicate syntactic actions taken by the user and generates semantic commands. Another processor means receives the semantic commands and executes them and an instruction object is responsive to the syntactic actions taken by the user and displays information on a monitor. An agent means sends sematic commands to the instruction object to indicate which information to display on the monitor and for intercepting semantic commands sent from the first action processor to the first command processor. In summary, a shell is provided to teach skills for a live training subject application. This considerably limits the range of training options which may be used. Further, such a system appears to provide relatively little scope for integration of a wide variety of media devices in a flexible way for effective user training.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed towards providing a computer based training system which:
(a) has the ability to clearly communicate information to the user, including feedback and responses to user inputs, and
(b) the ability to provide a wide range of training choices to the user and to easily switch between different modes of operation.
The technology involved in providing input and output media is advancing very quickly, and the thrust of the invention is therefore towards providing the underlying technical control steps to maximise utilisation of these devices for effective training.
The invention is also directed towards providing a process for producing a computer based training system, the process utilising features of the end product training system for efficient and flexible production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a computer based training system comprising a user input means, a system controller, a storage means storing training data, and a user output means including a video screen. The storage means stores independently addressable media records having media interface data. The storage means also stores an interface file comprising a series of interface action commands, each action command being associated with a media record and comprising code for instructing an interfacing action to be performed using data retrieved from the record. Further, the system controller comprises means for:
identifying a sequence of action commands which are associated with an interfacing event, being an event which the system performs automatically between interactivity points at which a user may input a signal;
automatically performing interfacing actions according to said sequence of action commands to perform an event; and
receiving a user input signal at an interactivity point after completing the event, acting in response to the received input signal, and subsequently identifying action commands for the next event and performing said event to continue an execution path sequentially using commands in the interface file.
In one important aspect, the interface file further comprises interactivity point commands which delimit sequences of action commands for events, and the system controller comprises means for recognising said interactivity point commands and directing interactivity inputs according to said commands.
Preferably, the system controller comprises means for directing retrieval of training programs at an interactivity point and for operating according to the training programs before returning to the execution path of the interface file at the next action command. An important aspect of the invention is that the training programs may include simulation programs having code for directing the system controller to perform operations simulating interfacing operations of the training subject.
The training subject may, for example, be a computer application such as Lotus Notes™. It has been found that by integration of simulation operations in the overall system operation in this manner, information is clearly communicated to the user and there is ample opportunity for interactivity inputs.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing data and programs for loading in a target computer to provide a computer based training system, the method comprising the steps of:
storing a master media data document having flags;
generating a memory storyboard having a cellular structure in which there are groups of cells, each group associated with an interfacing event of the target computer, and each of the cells within a group being individually addressable;
a production controller reading the master media data document, recognising flags within the document, and pre-assigning each cell to an interfacing action according to the flags;
automatically transferring media data from the master media data document to relevant pre-assigned cells within the storyboard;
processing each cell of the storyboard in turn to generate an interface file having action commands associated with cells of the storyboard, each action command comprising code for directing an interfacing action of a training system with respect to an associated cell;
generating a set of media records storing media data also stored in cells of the storyboard; and
combining said media records and said interface file together with a training system control program.
By automatic operation using commands of the interface file, the training system operates extremely quickly to provide a wide variety of media output and media interfacing actions generally. Interactivity inputs are provided for in a very simple and flexible manner with a wide range of options provided to a user. What, in effect, has been achieved is automatic sequential processing

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