Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7908602?dq=6,600,481
Timestamp: 2015-11-27 15:42:24
Document Index: 24894743

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

Patent US7908602 - Internet-based education support system, method and medium providing ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA system, method and medium for providing and/or installing extensions to enhance functionality of a computer system. User roles may be provided or associated with extensible components in determining user access to the enhanced functionality....http://www.google.com/patents/US7908602?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7908602 - Internet-based education support system, method and medium providing security attributes in modular, extensible componentsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7908602 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/643,074Publication dateMar 15, 2011Filing dateAug 19, 2003Priority dateJun 30, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20040153508Publication number10643074, 643074, US 7908602 B2, US 7908602B2, US-B2-7908602, US7908602 B2, US7908602B2InventorsRobert L. Alcorn, Scott N. Perian, John S. Fontaine, Daniel F. Rinzel, Jr., Dorothy R. Brown, Christopher Etesse, David YaskinOriginal AssigneeBlackboard Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (100), Non-Patent Citations (70), Referenced by (11), Classifications (13), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInternet-based education support system, method and medium providing security attributes in modular, extensible components
US 7908602 B2Abstract
A system, method and medium for providing and/or installing extensions to enhance functionality of a computer system. User roles may be provided or associated with extensible components in determining user access to the enhanced functionality.
1. A method for providing an extensible educational system having educational content, the method comprising the steps of:
installing on a server a file compatible with a known application program interface (API), wherein the installed file utilizes the known API to modify the user interface for at least one user of the system;
invoking an enhanced system functionality by using the modified user interface, the enhanced system functionality providing an additional ability to edit the educational content;
specifying in the file one or more roles of a user that can utilize the enhanced system functionality;
determining if the user has rights to utilize the enhanced system functionality based on the role of the user; and
if the user has rights to utilize the enhanced system functionality based on the role of the user, then granting access to the user to use the additional ability provided by the enhanced system functionality to edit the educational content.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the one or more roles into a system data repository.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enhanced system functionality is provided by at least one of a hyperlink and an icon.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more roles comprise at least one of: user administrator, course administrator, system support, observer, support, portal administrator, system administrator, instructor, student and teacher's assistant.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of denying access to the enhanced system functionality if the user does not have access rights.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the file is installed on the server by using a Java archive file.
7. An extensible educational system having educational content comprising:
a computer-readable memory configured to store a user interface;
a plug-in manager configured to install a file compatible with an application program interface (API),
wherein the installed file utilizes the known API to add new functionality to the extensible education system by modifying the user interface, the new functionality invoked by the modified user interface to provide an additional ability to edit the educational content, and
wherein the file specifies one or more roles of a user that can utilize the enhanced system functionality; and
an authentication user interface configured to verify a role of a user in the extensible educational system, and grant or deny the user access, based on the role of the user in the extensible educational system, to use the additional ability provided by the new functionality to edit the educational content, wherein the role of a user comprises at least one of: user administrator, course administrator, system support, observer, support, portal administrator, system administrator, instructor, student and teacher's assistant.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plug-in manager and the authentication user interface are invoked using the user interface.
9. A method for providing an extensible educational system having educational content, the method comprising:
invoking a plug-in manager configured to install a file compatible with an application program interface (API),
invoking an authentication user interface configured to verify a role of a user in the extensible educational system, and grant or deny the user access, based on the role of the user in the extensible educational system, to use the additional ability provided by the new functionality to edit the educational content.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the role of a user comprises at least one of: user administrator, course administrator, system support, observer, support, portal administrator, system administrator, instructor, student and teacher's assistant.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plug-in manager and the authentication user interface are invoked using the user interface.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the user interface is displayed by installing one or more files on a server.
13. A Non-transitory computer readable medium, which when executed on a computer performs a method for providing an extensible educational system having educational content, the method comprising:
invoking an authentication user interface configured to verify a role of a user in the extensible educational system, and grant or deny the user access, based on the role of the user in the extensible educational system to use the additional ability provided by the new functionality to edit the educational content.
14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the role of a user comprises at least one of: user administrator, course administrator, system support, observer, support, portal administrator, system administrator, instructor, student and teacher's assistant.
15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the plug-in manager and the authentication user interface are invoked using the user interface.
16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the user interface is displayed by installing one or more files on a server.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/608,208, filed Jun. 30, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,138 which is incorporated herein by reference. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/449,507, filed Feb. 25, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/406,304, filed Aug. 28, 2002, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/404,276, filed Aug. 19, 2002, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. application Ser. No. 09/608,208 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/141,283, filed on Jun. 30, 1999, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/141,864, filed on Jul. 1, 1999, and U.S. provisional Application No. 60/187,890, filed on Mar. 8, 2000, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, the present invention relates to systems and methods that may be used by system users at various levels for the distribution and use of information over a network. More specifically, the present invention relates to interactive systems and methods that incorporate a second type of text editor in addition to a primary text editor, and that will optionally render text and/or symbols associated with the secondary text editor on a display.
Further, the present invention relates to systems and for providing core system extensibility by using a set of files installed on a system server in a manner that is structured so the server has predefined entry points to call upon the functionality of the extension. The entry points may be Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) that are tracked in a system database, and associated with key entities such as content handlers and navigation items.
The advent of networked computers and communications has afforded a partial solution to these limitations. In particular, the widespread use and availability of electronic networks such as the Internet and the World-Wide Web (“WWW”) have made it possible for students and educators to overcome geographic separation as a barrier to education or training. Students and instructors are therefore able to exchange information including live or transcribed classroom lectures, homework assignments, texts and materials, grading, live or transcribed question and answer interaction sessions, and other related information to effect a traditional learning or educational experience regardless of physical location.
Known systems exist for distributing and using information over a network that permit activities by system users according to the level of the user. Such systems have not, however, reached a level where standards have evolved so that there is consistency in nomenclature, structure, or interfacing to such systems. Each system is technologically complex and specialized to what system developers believe are important. Therefore, the system users, regardless of level, may find it difficult to use without, in many cases, very specialized training as to the particularized interworkings of that specific system. Most of these systems do not lend themselves to rapid use after a brief introduction. Although the general populus in various countries are becoming increasingly “computer literate,” this does not mean that the worldwide society that could make use of these non-geographically limited educational or training systems would not have difficulty using them because of their nonuser-friendly nature. This is magnified given the number of user types that will access and use the system, e.g., instructors, students, and individuals receiving instruction, system providers and everything or everyone that may be a hybrid of each of these groups, and potential language barriers without very specialized conversion of the systems.
To the extent that current networked educational or training systems exist, they are configured from the institution or company perspective and not to that of the user. Further, these systems are not readily adaptable to the individual user's perspective(s). The student or individual receiving instruction is inextricably tied to the institution's configuration without the ability to tailor his/her experience that would better fit his/her individual style in obtaining, using, processing, and contributing information.
Current networked systems that are used for education or training will require the instructor to make lecture and textual information available to the students or individuals. As can be imagined, various instructors, whether the educational or company setting, will have very different teaching styles. Present-day systems that typically are institution- or company-centric are not readily adaptable to accommodate these differences in teaching styles. The best description of these systems would be to refer to them as “one size fits all” types of systems. Therefore, there will exist a constant struggle between the instructors, and institutions or companies to derive system refinements and customizations to meet the instructors' needs. This creates difficulties for institutions and companies from the maintenance and management standpoint.
Current LAN, MAN, WAN, intranet, Internet or WWW-based systems that may accommodate the educational or corporate systems that have been discussed, slow significantly as the increasing nu