WO2000041088A1 - System and method for interactive distance learning through real time videoconferencing - Google Patents
System and method for interactive distance learning through real time videoconferencing Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2000041088A1 WO2000041088A1 PCT/US2000/000213 US0000213W WO0041088A1 WO 2000041088 A1 WO2000041088 A1 WO 2000041088A1 US 0000213 W US0000213 W US 0000213W WO 0041088 A1 WO0041088 A1 WO 0041088A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
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- course
- provider
- distance learning
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/258—Client or end-user data management, e.g. managing client capabilities, user preferences or demographics, processing of multiple end-users preferences to derive collaborative data
- H04N21/25866—Management of end-user data
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09B—EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS
- G09B5/00—Electrically-operated educational appliances
- G09B5/08—Electrically-operated educational appliances providing for individual presentation of information to a plurality of student stations
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
- H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
- H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
- H04N21/254—Management at additional data server, e.g. shopping server, rights management server
- H04N21/2541—Rights Management
Definitions
- Distance learning includes the use of modern teleconferencing equipment to enable a remote classroom facility.
- the rapid growth of distance learning is being driven by three distinct trends: (i) an older generation of students is showing a high degree of interest in improving their existing education; (ii) younger generations are eager to attain additional skills necessary to obtain better positions of employment; and (i ⁇ ) community colleges and smaller universities that are financially unable to offer quality courses in the breadth and depth desired, now realize that such courses can be economically accessed from institutions around the world offering more specialized programs.
- One alternative is to increase the productivity of the existing infrastructure by delivering the education product to underutilized sites.
- a system for enabling the distribution of interactive distance learning services on an interactive, real time videoconferencing platform is disclosed.
- Modern high speed telecommunications equipment allows low cost teleconferencing hardware to be utilized in a point- to-multipoint context providing high-quality interactive multimedia transport for distance learning.
- a number of subscribers, comprised of both course offering institutions, or providers, and receiving sites, or participants, are enlisted.
- An interactive graphical user interface permits subscribers to list or browse new course offerings and to register participating sites for offered courses. This user interface provides access to a clearinghouse linking course offerings and participating sites, eliminating the need for individual institutions to arrange separate proprietary agreements for a single point-to-point course offering.
- Fig. 1 is a context diagram of the interactive distance learning clearinghouse system and method as described herein;
- Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the system delivering a course to three participating sites;
- Fig. 3 is a block diagram of offering sites and participating sites showing the duality of a single institution being both an offering site and a participating site for different courses;
- Fig. 4 shows a flowchart depicting selection of a course by a participant through the distance learning clearinghouse;
- Fig. 5 shows establishment of a communication link via the clearinghouse for delivering a course to a participant
- Fig. 6 shows a subscriber profile entry screen used to populate the provider and participant databases
- Fig. 7 shows a course profile entry screen used to populate the course database.
- the distance learning system as described herein provides a facility which acts as a clearinghouse for universities, schools, and businesses to offer and receive courses through a telecommunications multipoint bridge. Detailed course offerings are accessible through an interactive interface such as a point-and-click application.
- Videoconferencing equipment which can automatically track the instructor in front of the class, and which can include other inputs such as a high quality document camera, PC video display, or other audio/visual signals, provides real time audio, video, and media control information to multiple sites through a telecommunications multipoint bridge, such as the Video Context Orchestrator by Com Hotx, Inc. of Monroeville, Pennsylvania.
- Such a telecommunications multipoint bridge allows high speed multimedia throughput sufficient for interactive real time presentation over a low cost telecommunications transport medium such as ISDN.
- telecommunications lines are available in many locations and are continually being expanded at installation and access costs comparable to a standard business telephone line.
- the wider bandwidth provided by modern telecommunication lines such as ISDN supports a significant improvement in frames per second as compared to standard telephone lines.
- a low-cost telecommunications medium such as an ISDN bridge therefore provides point-to-multipoint interactive teleconferencing ability which promotes sufficient participation across multiple sites to assure financial feasibility of the distance learning system.
- Alternative communications media include optical transmission pathways and wireless communication lines, including satellite links.
- the distance learning system brings together two groups by creating a readily accessible supplier and consumer environment.
- the first group includes all the institutions wishing to market their faculty and course material; the second group comprises institutions having a need and desire for such courses in order to better serve their student population. It is further expected that a subscriber institution would often function as both a course offeror, or provider, and as a participant, or consumer, for available course offerings .
- the system as described herein provides both the telecommunications linkage and the incentives to establish distance learning in a financially feasible and understandable methodology.
- This linkage is provided using readily available, low cost, videoconferencing equipment, and high speed multimedia transport such as that provided by ISDN, CATV and/or satellite communications pathways to connect multiple locations through a bridge which provides transparent point-to- multipoint communication between the offering site and multiple participating sites.
- This system is platform- independent in the expectation that the hardware and software technology will become transparent in the distance learning process, and that manufacturers of applicable videoconferencing equipment will recognize a need to remain compliant with such a system, and therefore maintain costs while avoiding technological obsolescence.
- This linkage therefore provides an environment in which the parties can interactively relate to one another in various contexts such as: (i) instructor/student, as in an interactive classroom setting; (ii) instructor/student or project team such as in an interactive task oriented situation, e.g. training on the assembly, maintenance and/or operation of a device or series of devices; or (iii) a multipoint team with a specific assignment to accomplish some plan, objective or other project in a cooperative manner.
- the distance learning system providing a clearinghouse to facilitate the exchange of videoconferencing courses between educational center providers and participating sites worldwide.
- the telecommunications support which links course providers and participating sites ensures that both entities achieve the maximum benefit of the exchange in a cost-feasible manner.
- GUI access through a publicly accessible network such as the Internet assures efficient user access to available course data, and expedient course supplier access to promote new offerings.
- the existence of an in-place network of proprietary subscribers assures a ready volume of course material and an adequate number of participating sites to justify transmission medium costs. This system therefore provides a necessary service to educational institutions, students, businesses and other organizations wishing to provide or receive educational programs.
- the distance learning system 10 as described herein therefore functions as a clearinghouse 16 which attracts a number of subscribers comprised of course providers 12 and participating sites 14.
- financial feasibility is achieved by per-course charges to the participating site, which can then charge normal tuition rates to participating students. It is expected that only a relatively small number of students need enroll at each remote site in order to cover the per-course charge.
- the offering institution would likely receive a flat fee, with a percentage going to the instructor as an incentive. A further percentage is retained as profit by the operator of the distance learning clearinghouse system.
- Fee structures would be both lucrative to the offering institutions to induce participation, and comparable to the cost of providing a live instructor at a participating site. However, fee structures could be altered to induce participation by offering sites, particularly as an initial incentive to accumulate a strong base of subscribers.
- Such a pre-arranged fee structure helps to provide subscriber institutions with assurances of financial feasibility.
- As the initial subscriber investment is expected to be viewed as minimal, and also since only a small amount of activity, either as a course offeror or as a participating site, is required to recoup initial costs, budgetary plans will not be upset by such participation.
- student participation is assured by having access to a greater array of course offerings, and also by the interactive nature of the distance learning system. Since student tuition will not increase by electing a distance learning course, and since the interactive nature will serve to distinguish this system over unidirectional closed-circuit transmissions, or broadcasts of previously recorded offerings, distance learning courses will appeal as much as live lectures. Referring to Fig. 2, the interconnection of the telecommunications bridge is shown.
- This bridge 20 functions to link the offering institution 22 with one or more remote sites 24, and to arbitrate the media device control and informational data sent between the offering institution and the remote sites.
- Fig. 3 shows the multidirectional implementation of educational course offerings, illustrating how the same institution can function as both a course offeror and a participant site for different courses.
- University A 26 is a provider of course material to corporation Z 28, University A satellite location 30, and University D 32.
- University B 34 is both a course provider for University D 32 and University E 36, and a course participant for courses from University E 36.
- University C 38 is a participant for courses provided by University E 36.
- a flowchart of the course selection process as provided by the clearinghouse is shown in Fig. 4.
- a database of course providers is established, as shown at step 100.
- a list of courses offered may be established in a course database, as depicted in step 102.
- Course data may include date and time information concerning the offered course.
- a new participant is entered in a participant database, as shown at step 104.
- the participant browses through the available courses. Browsing is typically expected to be performed via the clearinghouse website via a publicly accessible network, such as the Internet.
- a course is selected, as disclosed at step 108.
- the selected course is scheduled for a particular date and time for the participant location, as depicted at step 110.
- the course schedule may be established in the subscription database by negotiation between the offeror and the participant. Other participants may elect to receive the same course, as repeated at steps 108 and 110.
- a telecommunications link is established between the provider and all participants, as shown at step 112.
- the scheduled course is later transmitted to the participant site(s), as disclosed in step 114.
- the latter step includes the ability to transmit a multimedia presentation from the offeror to the participant, as well as multimedia response and participation from the participant to the offeror.
- Fig. 5 shows the establishment of a distance learning communications link as defined herein.
- a plurality of providers 50 are identified which are adapted to provide course offerings.
- a plurality of participants 52 are adapted to receive course offerings.
- a provider database 54 contains pertinent information about each provider, such as name of school, point of contact, and enrollment data. Each provider may be associated with one or more courses stored in a course database 56.
- the course database 56 stores data concerned with each course, such as time, place, cost, credits, and limitations on participants capable of interacting with the instructor.
- a participant database stores information concerned with each participant entity entitled to receive courses through the clearinghouse.
- a particular entity may be both a participant and a provider.
- a scheduler 60 stores an entry in a subscription database 62.
- the scheduler entry identifies the provider from the provider database 54, the course time and place from the course database 56, and the participant that is to receive the course from the participant database 58. Since the received course is specific to the site, individual student attendees need not be specified. The participant receiving the course determines the course attendees. Other data may also be stored, such as the transport mechanism which is to be used for transmission of the course material. Additional participant sites may also be scheduled in the subscription database 62, up to the maximum number of remote sites designated to receive a particular course.
- the scheduler establishes a link between the provider 50 and the participant sites 52.
- a point-to-multipoint link 64 is established to provide audio and visual communication between the provider 50 and one or more participants 52.
- the link should support audio and video transmission at a rate which appears substantially real time, and may be via the ISDN point-to-multipoint bridge, Internet, direct line, or other suitable means.
- the initial scheduling need not be real time and may be done via Internet, voice, phone, fax, or other real time or non- real time means.
- Figs. 6 and 7 show further GUI screens which serve to introduce prospective subscriber institutions to the distance learning system through an interactive point- and-click medium such as an Internet browser. These screens can be used to populate the provider database 54, the participant database 58, and the course database 56.
- Fig. 6 is a subscriber entry form for new subscribers to enter pertinent required information to the distance learning system.
- Fig. 7 is a course profile entry form for offering institutions to list information about course offerings. The illustrated data may also be entered into the appropriate databases manually.
- Membership in the clearinghouse allows colleges to cost effectively extend their course offerings through interactive, high-quality real time videoconferencing bridged to other businesses, high schools, and branches while compensating their staff for submitting their courses to the clearinghouse.
- subscribing colleges or businesses must meet the following requirements: 1. membership in the clearinghouse; and 2. a classroom containing the standardized delivery system to support interactive videoconferencing at the minimum quality of 15 frames/second (128KB) with a high- quality document camera.
- Suitable transport means include the Internet, dedicated line, or wireless transport mediums. Subscribing college course providers may send unlimited courses to the clearinghouse website.
- provider colleges For each course, the provider supplies detailed information of each course being offered, a syllabus, credit information, and logistical details. The foregoing information is made available on the clearinghouse website.
- provider colleges earn a per-credit fee for each college that accepts the course being offered.
- Provider colleges also earn a per-semester hour non-credit fee for each business that accepts the course being offered up to 48 non-interactive locations.
- colleges are encouraged to share 30% of the fees received with instructors as an incentive.
- Other fee arrangements may exist in other embodiments.
- a participant site, either a college or a business requires a facility containing a standardized delivery system of a minimum of 15 frame/second (128K) interactive videoconferencing unit with or without a quality document camera.
- a per-credit fee must be submitted with a completed registration to the clearinghouse two weeks prior to the course for up to 12 locations, in one embodiment.
- a per-semester hour fee must be submitted for up to 48 locations for this embodiment.
- Participant sites may charge any fee at their discretion for attending students, and the issuance of credit is at the discretion of the receiving college. Again, other fee arrangements may exist in other embodiments.
- a college or business membership requires a flat fee per year, which includes posting of a predetermined number of course offerings on the clearinghouse website.
- Additional locations or departments may participate for a reduced yearly fee. There is no additional charge for a member, or subscribing, institution to send a course.
- a per- credit hour fee for 15 hourly meetings is required, or a flat hourly rate for business subscribers.
- the provider institution may elect to charge fees at their discretion to students. A percentage of the fee charged to students will be retained by the clearinghouse .
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU24060/00A AU2406000A (en) | 1999-01-06 | 2000-01-05 | System and method for interactive distance learning through real time videoconferencing |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11499899P | 1999-01-06 | 1999-01-06 | |
US60/114,998 | 1999-01-06 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2000041088A1 true WO2000041088A1 (en) | 2000-07-13 |
WO2000041088B1 WO2000041088B1 (en) | 2000-08-17 |
WO2000041088A8 WO2000041088A8 (en) | 2000-10-05 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2000/000213 WO2000041088A1 (en) | 1999-01-06 | 2000-01-05 | System and method for interactive distance learning through real time videoconferencing |
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AU (1) | AU2406000A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2000041088A1 (en) |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US5572582A (en) * | 1995-02-24 | 1996-11-05 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for establishing communication between two teleconferencing endpoints |
US5715314A (en) * | 1994-10-24 | 1998-02-03 | Open Market, Inc. | Network sales system |
US5727950A (en) * | 1996-05-22 | 1998-03-17 | Netsage Corporation | Agent based instruction system and method |
US5745681A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1998-04-28 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Stateless shopping cart for the web |
US5806044A (en) * | 1996-02-20 | 1998-09-08 | Powell; Ken R. | System and method for distributing coupons through a system of computer networks |
US5812769A (en) * | 1995-09-20 | 1998-09-22 | Infonautics Corporation | Method and apparatus for redirecting a user to a new location on the world wide web using relative universal resource locators |
US5889863A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1999-03-30 | Verifone, Inc. | System, method and article of manufacture for remote virtual point of sale processing utilizing a multichannel, extensible, flexible architecture |
US5901287A (en) * | 1996-04-01 | 1999-05-04 | The Sabre Group Inc. | Information aggregation and synthesization system |
-
2000
- 2000-01-05 WO PCT/US2000/000213 patent/WO2000041088A1/en active Application Filing
- 2000-01-05 AU AU24060/00A patent/AU2406000A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5715314A (en) * | 1994-10-24 | 1998-02-03 | Open Market, Inc. | Network sales system |
US5572582A (en) * | 1995-02-24 | 1996-11-05 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Method and apparatus for establishing communication between two teleconferencing endpoints |
US5812769A (en) * | 1995-09-20 | 1998-09-22 | Infonautics Corporation | Method and apparatus for redirecting a user to a new location on the world wide web using relative universal resource locators |
US5745681A (en) * | 1996-01-11 | 1998-04-28 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Stateless shopping cart for the web |
US5806044A (en) * | 1996-02-20 | 1998-09-08 | Powell; Ken R. | System and method for distributing coupons through a system of computer networks |
US5901287A (en) * | 1996-04-01 | 1999-05-04 | The Sabre Group Inc. | Information aggregation and synthesization system |
US5727950A (en) * | 1996-05-22 | 1998-03-17 | Netsage Corporation | Agent based instruction system and method |
US5889863A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1999-03-30 | Verifone, Inc. | System, method and article of manufacture for remote virtual point of sale processing utilizing a multichannel, extensible, flexible architecture |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2000041088A8 (en) | 2000-10-05 |
AU2406000A (en) | 2000-07-24 |
WO2000041088B1 (en) | 2000-08-17 |
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