Education and demonstration – Question or problem eliciting response
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-07-10
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Question or problem eliciting response
C340S286020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257896
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a skills building method for training a subject, and a skills building system.
BACKGROUND ART
In the employer/employee environment, many times it is desirable for the employee to receive continuing training and education. Traditionally, continuing training and skill building are achieved with seminars, classroom lectures, homework, and tests. Unfortunately, the traditional continuing education techniques require a substantial amount of employee time, and thus, are usually limited to a short duration to avoid overburdening the employee. For example, a three day seminar and a six week evening class are two examples of short duration training that require substantial employee time during that duration. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an ongoing skill building method and system that is implemented in such a way that the training subject is not overburdened by the ongoing training process.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a skills building method and system for training a subject that autonomously sends challenges over various telecommunications channels and accumulates a score based on a series of graded responses to a series of challenges.
In carrying out the above object, a skills building method for training a subject is provided. The method comprises selecting a telecommunications channel from a plurality of telecommunications channels that are available for communicating with the subject, and autonomously sending a challenge over the selected telecommunications channel to the subject. The method further comprises receiving a response from the subject, grading the response, and accumulating a score for the subject based on the graded response. The accumulated score, over a period of time, is based on a series of graded responses to a series of challenges sent over various telecommunications channels to the subject.
In one implementation, autonomously sending the challenge further comprises establishing a challenge schedule not fully known to the subject, and sending the plurality of challenges to the subject, over a plurality of different telecommunications channels, in accordance with the established schedule. The schedule may be firmly established, or may be sufficiently established by establishing at least one challenge schedule criterion. After the at least one criterion is established, the challenge schedule may be sufficiently established such that the challenged schedule, once fully realized, meets the at least one challenge schedule criterion.
In the embodiments of the present invention, it is appreciated that the telecommunications channel is selected from a plurality of telecommunications channels available for communicating with the subject, for each autonomously sent challenge. The plurality of telecommunications channels may include a number of different channels. For example, a channel may extend over a wireline access network, possibly to a telephone. Further, for example, the channel may extend over a wireless access network, potentially to a wireless device such as a phone or pager. Still further, for example, channels may extend over circuit switched networks and packet or cell switched networks. Further, for example, a particular channel may be made up of a number of different portions having different types of communication taking place at different portions of the overall path. Still further, the channels may include voice channels or data channels. And even further, it is to be appreciated that the challenge may be autonomously sent in a variety of formats, such as an interactive challenge, or a message challenge (for example, an e-mail message or a voice mail message to which the subject is to reply).
Even further, the challenge need not be entirely integrated in the initial communication over the selected telecommunications channel. That is, the autonomously sent challenge may be in the form of an instruction. The instruction directs the subject to a different location to complete the challenge. For example, the instruction could direct the subject to an Internet site. The instruction may be a Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) link to a web site. In another example, the instruction could be a telephone number for the subject to call.
A preferred embodiment further comprises authenticating the subject. Authentication may take a number of different forms, and may occur at different times, as appropriate for the particular implementation of the present invention. For example, the subject may be authenticated prior to sending the challenge, prior to accepting a response from the subject, or after receiving a response. Further, authenticating may include comparing a personal password provided by the subject to a registered password for the subject. Alternatively, authenticating may include comparing digital identification provided by the subject to a registered digital signature for the subject. For example, the digital identification may be in the form of a certificate, or any other appropriate form.
A preferred method further comprises determining a score accumulation technique. Embodiments of the present invention may use different score accumulation techniques or combine a number of different score accumulation techniques to form yet another score accumulation technique. For example, the score accumulation technique may be determined as a difficulty based technique wherein accumulating the score is further based on a difficulty rating for the challenge. The difficulty rating for the challenge may be selected by the subject prior to the challenge being presented, or the system may determine the appropriate difficulty rating. For example, an adaptive testing technique may be used or difficulty rating may be randomly determined each time a question is sent. In another example, the score accumulation technique is determined as a betting based technique wherein accumulating the score is further based on a bet placed by the subject of the challenge.
Even further, in carrying out the present invention, a computer readable storage medium is provided. The computer readable storage medium includes instructions represented by information stored on the medium. The instructions are executable by a computer to perform a skills building method for training a subject. The computer readable storage medium further comprises instructions for selecting a telecommunications channel from a plurality of telecommunications channels that are available for communicating with the subject, and instructions for autonomously sending a challenge over the selected telecommunications channel to the subject. The computer readable storage medium further comprises instructions for receiving a response from the subject, instructions for grading the response, and instructions for accumulating a score for the subject based on the graded response. Over a period of time, the accumulated score is based on a series of graded responses to a series of challenges sent over various telecommunications channels to the subject.
Yet further, in carrying out the present invention, a skills building system for training a subject is provided. This system comprises control logic configured to select a telecommunications channel from a plurality of telecommunications channels that are available for communicating with the subject, and control logic configured to autonomously send a challenge over the selected telecommunications channel to the subject, and to receive a response from the subject. The system further comprises control logic configured to grade a response, and to accumulate a score for the subject based on the graded response. Over a period of time, the accumulated score is based on a series of graded responses to a series of challenges sent over various telecommunications channels to the subject.
The advantages associated with embodiments of the present invention are numerous. For example, embodiments of the present invention provide an ongoing skills building architecture, syste
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Cheng Joe H.
Christman Kathleen M
Qwest Communications International Inc.
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